The observatory said in a statement yesterday that the probability of issuing the No.3 tropical cyclone signal early this morning was “relatively low”, as Tropical Depression “Haikui”, which was located in the Taiwan Strait yesterday, was expected to move west-northwest towards Fujian or the eastern coast of Guangdong and make landfall today.
According to the observatory, Haikui was located about 560-kilometres east-northeast of Macau at 8 p.m. yesterday.
The observatory also said that Haikui would weaken gradually after moving inland between tomorrow and Thursday.
The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) predicted yesterday in the statement a “low” probability of hoisting a Blue storm surge warning, which indicates flooding of below 0.50 metres above road level in the Inner Harbour area.
The Standby Signal No.1 has been in effect in Macau since 4 a.m. yesterday.
Due to the influence of another tropical depression in the northwest Pacific Ocean, the weather station said that it “cannot be ruled out that the path of Haikui will be farther south than expected”.
According to the statement, under the influence of Haikui’s remnants, the weather station forecast showers and thunderstorms in Macau tomorrow and Thursday.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No. 1 at 4:40 a.m. yesterday, which noted on its website that the chance of issuing a higher tropical cyclone warning signal before 5 a.m. today “is not high”.
