Hong Kong issues red rainstorm warning as morning and whole-day classes suspended

On Thursday morning, Hong Kong's weather forecaster issued a red rainstorm warning, prompting the suspension of all morning and whole-day school classes. The Observatory, at 5.05 am, also issued a Special Landslip Advisory warning of potential landslides on Po Toi Island due to the heavy rain. If the red warning was downgraded to amber or cancelled by 10.30 am, afternoon school classes would resume as normal. The Home Affairs Department opened temporary shelters for residents affected by the severe weather.

Heavy rain, exceeding 50mm in an hour, was expected to fall or had already fallen over Hong Kong, leading to flash floods and flooding around watercourses. Residents living near rivers were advised to stay alert and consider evacuation if their homes were at risk of flooding. Thursday's weather was forecast to be mostly cloudy with heavy showers and squally thunderstorms. The rain was expected to gradually lessen, with temperatures peaking around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit).

Tropical Cyclone Saudel was moving closer to the coast of Fujian to Zhejiang, bringing higher temperatures in southern China later in the week. The Observatory warned that the high temperatures could trigger further showers. The unsettled weather was expected to continue over the next couple of days, with rain on Friday and Saturday.