Macau's Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has hoisted the No.9 typhoon signal  at 11 p.m. as Super Typhoon "Saola" is hurtling towards Macau. The No.9 signal replaced the No.8 signal that had been hoisted at 2 p.m. today. The weather bureau said in a statement late tonight that the No.9 signal "may be replaced by the No.10 signal between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. tomorrow. According to an SMG statement, Saola was located about 50 km east-southeast of Macau at 11 p.m. "and is gradually approaching Macau."

The observatory earlier tonight issued the Red storm surge warning, which replaced the Orange storm surge warning which had been issued in the afternoon.  It forecast heavy rains and thunderstorms until Sunday as well as flooding in low-lying areas. It said that "flooding will occur in low-lying areas between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. tomorrow."

The Red storm surge warning is the fourth highest of a five-level system. Red indicates that the bureau expects floods ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 metre above road level. Red is the fourth highest level, indicating that floods will possibly range between 1.5 and 2.5 metres above road level. Low-lying areas on the peninsula began to be flooded this morning. Many shops in the areas have set up flood-protection barriers.  Meanwhile, the local government announced tonight that due to the hoisting of the No.8 signal Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has ordered the temporary closure of Macau's 30 casinos. Customarily, Macau's casinos mostly stayed open during typhoons in the past.  

In a separate statement, the local government also said that at the request of the adjacent city of Zhuhai, all border checkpoints between the two cities were temporarily closed tonight.