Macau's observatory hoisted Typhoon Signal No. 8 tonight, saying in a statement that it expected Signal No. 8 to "remain in effect early tomorrow morning."
The signal was issued at 10:30 p.m.
Signal No. 8 means, according to the bureau's website, that a severe tropical cyclone continues to approach Macau. Winds with a sustained speed of 63 to 117 km/h are expected or blowing, and gusts my exceed 180 km/h in Macau. No. 8 is the third highest of Macau's five-level tropical cyclone warning system (1, 3, 8, 9, 10).
At 10 p.m., Typhoon "Kompasu" was centred about 450 km south of Macau, moving towards Hainan island, the nation's southernmost province.
The Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) pointed out that its Blue Storm Surge warning remains in force. It predicted that flooding will occur in the city's low-lying areas between 9 p.m. today and 5 a.m. tomorrow. It forecast that the floods will remain below 0.50 metre. The Blue Storm Surge warning is the lowest of a five-level warning system.
According to the bureau, "Kompasu" is forecast to move across the northern part of the South China Sea these two days, and come closest to Macau between tonight and tomorrow morning, at a distance of around 400 km south of Macau.
Due to Signal No. 8, all public bus and light railway services have been suspended. The government opened tonight four shelters for people seeking refuge from the storm. Macau's gaming operators tonight offered free parking to the general public at some of their carparks during the duration of Signal No. 8, providing a total of 3,400 parking spaces.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Observatory said tonight that Signal No. 8 signal will remain in force at least before dawn tomorrow.
Hong Kong's weather station said according to its forecast track, "Kompasu" will be closest to Hong Kong early tomorrow morning, skirting within 400 kilometres to the city's south. Hong Kong issued Signal No. 8 at 5:20 p.m. today.
