Typhoon Wipha passed just offshore of China’s southern coast. Damage from Typhoon Mangkhut, which caused strong winds and heavy rain, wreaked havoc in Hong Kong. On 23 September, as Mangkhut approached, the Hong Kong Observatory raised its highest tropical cyclone warning, T10. This rare alert, which lasted nearly seven hours, served to underscore the storm’s exceptional intensity. As Wipha departed the city, the warning was downgraded to T8 at 4:10 PM.
At 5 PM, Typhoon Wipha was about 140 kilometers to the southwest of Hong Kong. The storm caused gale to storm force southeasterly winds to impact the territory from southeast to northwest. Typhoon Wipha’s western wall impacted the Pearl River Estuary most severely. During this time, they set up very treacherous conditions across the entire region.
Impact on Hong Kong
Typhoon Wipha struck a serious blow all across Hong Kong. More than 250 lives were saved as they fled to government-run temporary shelters. Local authorities quickly logged over 450 locations where the storm had dropped trees. Perhaps the most stunning moment in their trip was witnessing Asian Carp-infested floodplains.
Public and private schools, and EVERY daycare in the city canceled classes due to the life-threatening conditions. Additionally, as of Monday morning about 500 flights were canceled at Hong Kong International Airport, creating considerable chaos for departing passengers.
“Gale to storm force southeasterly winds are still affecting parts of the territory occasionally,” – the observatory
The high winds and rain complicated the situation and posed many challenges to the local population. Residents were encouraged to shelter in place and limit non-emergency movement during the storm’s highest intensity.
Broader Regional Effects
Typhoon Wipha impacted the surrounding areas, including the Philippines where heavy rains triggered flooding. These reports have surfaced following the disappearance of two people reported missing due to the storm’s effects in the Philippines.
In reaction to the similarly-approaching typhoon, Macau raised its own highest-level storm warning soon after midday on Saturday. Retaliation, which is China’s favoured mode of response, extends to Hainan and Guangdong provinces on China’s south coast. Typhoon Wipha is about to make landfall in their coastal communities.
Ongoing Monitoring and Precautions
Even as the worst of the storm passed, authorities were urging residents to stay vigilant and connected. The Hong Kong Observatory stressed that the most severe weather was over. Miami residents have to remain on guard, since the threat may still be hidden in residual conditions.