Macau’s observatory hoisted the Signal No. 3 yesterday afternoon as Tropical Storm Cempaka was edging closer to the city.
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) issued the signal at 2:30 p.m.
At 2 a.m. today, Cempaka was located about 150 km southwest of Macau and moving towards the western coast of Guangdong province, the statement said, urging motorcyclists to travel between the peninsula and Taipa in the motorcycle lane on Sai Van Bridge.
“As the winds over the [three Macau-Taipa] bridges are expected to be strong and gusty, drivers are advised to pay attention to traffic safety,” the statement said.
Government broadcaster TDM said last night that Cempaka could become a severe tropical cyclone during the night.
TDM said that the hoisting of Signal No. 8 this morning was “possible”.
TDM quoted SMG spokeswoman Vera Varela as saying last night that the “possibility of hoisting Signal No. 8 [today] is growing.”
Signal No. 3 means that under the influence of a tropical cyclone, winds with a sustained speed of 41 to 62 km/h are expected to be blowing and gusts may exceed 110 km/h in Macau, according to the bureau.
Signal No. 8 indicates that under the influence of a tropical cyclone, winds with a sustained speed of 63 to 117 km/h are expected to be blowing and gusts may exceed 180 km/h in Macau.
Meanwhile, the weather bureau issued its “blue” storm warning at 3:15 p.m. An SMG statement forecast that flooding “will occur” in low-lying areas between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. today.
