The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) hoisted this year’s first No.1 typhoon signal at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The signal was hoisted as Tropical Cyclone Merbok was 540 kilometres south-east of the city at 9 p.m. It was heading north toward the eastern coast of Guangdong province at about 20 kilometres per hour.
According to the bureau’s website, based on the current trajectory of the storm, there is a low possibility of hoisting a higher signal this morning. The bureau forecast “a few showers” for today.
The typhoon season typically runs from June to September.
The Hong Kong Observatory also raised the No. 1 signal on Sunday evening.
According to the observatory, the tropical cyclone was forecast to make landfall within 200 kilometres of Hong Kong between tonight and tomorrow morning.
According to Xinhua, Merbok is the second typhoon heading for Guangdong this year.
Xinhua quoted the provincial weather bureau as saying that Merbok was expected to make landfall on the coast between Huidong county and Shantou city in the late afternoon or tonight.
Guangdong’s weather bureau predicted that Merbok will weaken soon after it made landfall without reaching areas outside Guangdong.
According to the neighbouring province’s meteorologists, heavy rain is expected in most coastal cities to the east of the mouth of the Pearl River Delta. The rainfall will last until late Wednesday, according to the forecast.
