Macao hoisted typhoon signal no. 1 at 12:00 am today after Severe Typhoon Podul came within 800 kilometres of the city. According to the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (known by its initials Portuguese initials SMG), the no. 1 alert “will remain in force today.”
The likelihood of a level 3 typhoon being issued between midnight and tomorrow morning is currently listed as “relatively low to medium,” with the SMG pointing out that the storm’s path and strength were not settled and that “there is possibility of [Podul] taking a more southerly route.”
By 8 am tomorrow, Podul is projected to come within 400 kilometres of Macao, with the SMG stating that “Macao will experience frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by strong gusts, from Thursday to Friday.”
Currently, Podul is moving in a West-northwest direction towards southern Taiwan at a rate of 30 kilometres per hour. Based on the latest forecast, Typhoon Podul will reach the south of Fujian and the east coast of Guangdong by tomorrow.
In response to Podul’s looming presence in Taiwan, Macau International Airport announced the cancellation of 12 flights between the SAR and the Taiwanese cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, which were scheduled for today. These include routes operated by Air Macau, Eva Airways and TigerAir Taiwan.
[See more: The Ultimate Macao Typhoon Survival Guide]
Taiwanese authorities have also been preparing for the arrival of Podul by evacuating over 5,500 people from the island’s south and east, which could be affected by landfall and flooding.
Meanwhile, 252 domestic flights in Taiwan were grounded today. Another 129 international flights were cancelled, while 23 were delayed.
Neighbouring Hong Kong has responded to Podul by raising typhoon signal no. 1 at 8:40 am today. The alert is set to remain in place over the course of today, with the local observatory anticipating “extremely hot” temperatures in certain areas of the city today followed by “showers and squally thunderstorms” that will impact Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta Estuary.
Typhoons commonly form around the Pacific Ocean between July and September. So far this year, Macao has already been hit by several typhoons, including Wutip in June and Wipha in July. According to experts, the SAR could be impacted by between 5 and 8 typhoons this year.
