8th August 2022 – (Hong Kong) The area of low pressure in the central part of the South China Sea is currently about 800 kilometres away from Hong Kong, and its intensity remains uncertain. According to the current forecast, the low pressure area will gradually develop into a tropical cyclone from later tonight (8th) to tomorrow morning (9th). Depending on its actual development and movement, the Observatory will consider issuing the Standby Signal No. 1 tomorrow morning. The area of low pressure is expected to move towards the vicinity of western Guangdong and Hainan Island afterwards. Under the influence of its outer rainbands, it will be windy with heavy squally showers and thunderstorms over Hong Kong on Tuesday (9th August) and Wednesday (10th August).
In addition, the Observatory predicts that there will be a fresh easterly wind force 5 in Hong Kong tomorrow, strong wind force 6 offshore, and a strong wind force 7 in the highlands later (similar to a Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal, No.3) which will be maintained on 10th August. The offshore and highland wind force can reach 8 similar to Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal, No.8.
The Observatory expects strong gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour or more to continue to affect the New Territories. At 6.50pm this evening, strong gusts of over 80 kilometres per hour were recorded in Tap Mun.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, as of 5pm, the tropical depression in the central South China Sea was about 170 kilometres southwest of Yongxing Island in Xisha, Sansha Province, Hainan Province. It is predicted that the tropical depression will first circulate in the central waters of the South China Sea, and the intensity will gradually increase. It may intensify tomorrow into Typhoon Mulan. It is expected to reach tropical storm level at 5pm tomorrow, with a wind speed of about 64 kilometres per hour.
By Wednesday, it will gradually approach the area from northeastern Hainan Island to western Guangdong before landing near Paozhou Island in Zhanjiang City from the afternoon to the evening of the same day. At that time, it will also be the closest to Hong Kong, and its wind force will remain at about 72 to 82 kilometres per hour. The storm will gradually weaken by then.