Macau’s Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) announced this morning that it will lower Typhoon Signal No. 8 (T8) to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 (T3) at 1 p.m.
“Local winds are expected to weaken gradually,” the bureau said. T3 indicates that, under the influence of a tropical cyclone, winds with a sustained speed of 41 to 62 km/h are expected or blowing, and gusts may exceed 110 km/h in Macau. T8 indicates that winds with a sustained speed of 63 to 117 km/h are expected or blowing, and gusts may exceed 180 km/h in Macau.
Macau has a five-level storm warning system: T1, T3, T8, T9, and T10. The bureau hoisted T8 at 2 a.m. today.
The observatory said in a message at noon that Typhoon “Matmo” was moving in a west-northwest direction, generally towards Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong Province.
According to the current forecast, the observatory said, “Matmo is gradually moving away from Macau, and the wind force in Macau will recede in the afternoon.” However, the bureau warned that, affected by the tropical cyclone’s outer rainbands, there will still be heavy showers at times, with the wind force intermittently reaching Force 8.
On the Beaufort Scale, Force 8 indicates a wind speed of 34 to 40 knots (63 to 74 km/h) and can cause some structural damage, potentially affecting the operation of small boats and outdoor activities. According to AI chatbot Poe, the Beaufort Scale is a standardised system for measuring wind speed and its effects on the environment. Developed by British naval officer and hydrographer Sir Francis Beaufort in the early 19th century, it classifies wind strength using a scale from 0 to 12, based on observable conditions at sea and on land.
The bureau reported that at 12 p.m., Typhoon Matmo was estimated to be about 330 km southwest of Macau (near 20.5°N, 110.9°E), and was forecast to move west-northwest at around 22 km/h towards Leizhou Peninsula.
The observatory also announced that it cancelled the Storm Surge Warning at 11:00. Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Operations Centre reported in a statement at noon 14 incidents, such as scaffolding and signboards at risk of falling. It also reported one injury caused by the storm. No major damage has been reported.
Public transport is gradually resuming after the lowering of T8, the centre stated.
