Hong Kong Braces for Powerful Typhoon Impact
The Hong Kong Observatory has issued urgent warnings as Super Typhoon Ragasa barrels toward the city, predicting maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h and potential flooding comparable to historic storms Hato and Mangkhut.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
Typhoon Ragasa is rapidly intensifying and expected to reach super typhoon status by Tuesday, with the Hong Kong Observatory forecasting it will skirt the territory on Wednesday. The storm is predicted to move across the Luzon Strait and enter the northern part of the South China Sea, posing significant threats to coastal areas.
"Under the influence of significant storm surge, the sea level over coastal areas by then may be similar to that of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018," warned the Hong Kong Observatory in their latest bulletin.
Timeline and Expected Impact
Google's experimental Weather Lab, powered by AI, predicts Ragasa will be closest to Hong Kong between approximately 2am and 8am on Wednesday. The Observatory's forecast indicates the storm will maintain super typhoon status through Thursday before weakening to a severe tropical storm.
Heavy squally showers and thunderstorms are expected to set in after very hot weather on Monday, with seas becoming "very high with swells." If a T10 signal – the highest storm warning signal – is hoisted, it would indicate hurricane-force winds are blowing or expected to blow.
Historical Context: Hato and Mangkhut
Typhoon Hato struck South China in August 2017, leaving 12 dead in Macau and on the mainland while causing severe flooding, storm surges up to four meters, and widespread debris from collapsed advertising signs and trees in Hong Kong.
Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 was the strongest to hit the city since 1983, stranding thousands of travelers and causing billions of dollars in damage. Both storms serve as sobering reminders of what Ragasa could bring.
Climate Change Connection
Tropical cyclones like Ragasa are strengthening and becoming more destructive due to warming seas. According to NASA, over 90 percent of excess heat in the atmosphere ends up in oceans as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space. This energy fuels more intense storm systems.
Preparations and Safety Measures
Residents are urged to stay indoors and away from exposed windows and doors during the storm. Temporary shelters will open for people with no safe refuge, and all government facilities and schools will close. Public transportation will be severely affected, with no bus or ferry services expected, though some MTR underground sections may continue operating if conditions permit.
The Observatory specifically warns that if the eye of the tropical cyclone passes directly over Hong Kong, there may be a temporary lull followed by a sudden resumption of violent winds, emphasizing that residents should remain in safe locations throughout the entire event.