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September 7, 2017

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More cyclones forecast for Hong Kong

Source: Xinhua | 00:01 UTC+8 September 7, 2017 | Print Edition

The Hong Kong Observatory has revised its forecast of the number of tropical cyclones coming within 500 kilometers of the city this year from six to nine, which means there may be three more to come.

“We had expected, for the rest of this year, the number of tropical cyclones entering the 500-kilometer range of Hong Kong likely to be normal,” the observatory’s Tong Hang Wai said yesterday.

However, taking the actual observations in January to August into account, the number of typhoons is already higher, and so there was a need to revise the forecast.

There have been six tropical cyclones within the 500-kilometer range this year — Merbok, Roke, Haitang, Hato, Pakhar and Mawar.

A hurricane alert was issued on August 23, when Typhoon Hato caused severe flooding in low-lying areas, hundreds of trees uprooted and transport services coming to a halt. Less than a week after Hato left, Typhoon Pakhar hit the city.

Hong Kong’s typhoon season usually falls in summer. But Tang said it is not uncommon to have typhoons in autumn and winter.

The observatory’s forecast of Hong Kong’s annual rainfall has also been revised from the previous 2,000 to 2,600 millimeters to 2,300 to 2,900 millimeters.

Up to August 3, rainfall recorded at the observatory was 2,249 millimeters, about 18 percent higher than normal.

The observatory says rainfall in Hong Kong for rest of the year is likely to be normal to below normal.

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