Macau's observatory has issued this afternoon the No.3 typhoon signal.
The signal, which was issued at 5:30 p.m., replaced the No.1 standby signal which had been hoisted on Friday night.
According to a statement by the Macau Meteorological and Geophyiscal Bureau (SMG), Tropical Cyclone Talim was located at about 380 km south-southeast of Macau at 5 p.m. and moving toward the western coast of Guangdong province.
"As the winds over the bridges are expected to be strong and gusty, drivers are advised to pay attention to traffic safety," the bureau said, urging motorcyclists to travel between Macau peninsula and Taipa island through the enclosed motorcycle lane on Sai Van Bridge.
The bureau also said that there was a "medium" probability that it needed to hoist the No.8 typhoon signal early tomorrow. The No.8 signal means that winds with a sustained speed of 63 to 117 km/h are expected or blowing, while gusts may exceed 180 km/h in Macau, which operates a five-level typhoon warning signal system – No. 1, 3, 8, 9, and 10. The top warning signal, No. 10, indicates that the centre of a severe tropical cyclone could hit Macau. Winds with a sustained speed exceeding 118 km/h are expected or blowing in Macau, as well as gusts of great intensity.
The hoisting of the No.3 typhoon warning signal means, according to the statement, that under the influence of a tropical cyclone, winds with a sustained speed of 41 to 62 km/h are expected or blowing while gusts may exceed 110 km/h in Macau.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong's observatory has announced that it will assess the need to issue the No.8 typhoon signal sometime after midnight as Talim intensifies and moves closer to Hong Kong, RTHK has reported this afternoon.
"Depending on the changes in Talim's intensity and the distance between the associated gales and the Pearl River Estuary, the Observatory will assess the need of issuing the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 midnight to tomorrow morning," Hong Kong's weather station said in a statement.
The No.3 signal was hoisted in Hong Kong at 5:40 a.m. today.
Talim is expected to be at its closest point on Monday morning, passing within 300 kilometres south of Hong Kong, RTHK quoted Hong Kong's observatory as saying.
