The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) said on its website last night that there was a “medium or relatively high” probability for the Strong Wind Signal No.3 to be hoisted again between tonight and early tomorrow.
The bureau said last night that tropical cyclone “Wutip” had intensified into a strong tropical storm and remained about 690 kilometres from Macau.
The name of the tropical cyclone means butterfly in Chinese.
The bureau hoisted the Standby Signal No.1 at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, after which the Strong Wind Signal No.3 was hoisted at 6 a.m. yesterday, before the observatory lowered the signal to No.1 at 6 p.m. yesterday evening.
Depending on its location and strength, Macau’s observatory classifies a tropical cyclone into tropical depression, tropical storm, strong tropical storm, typhoon, strong typhoon, and super typhoon.
Signal No.1 is the lowest of Macau’s tropical cyclone warning signals. It is hoisted when a tropical cyclone comes within 800 kilometres from Macau. Its higher warning typhoon signals are the No.3, No.8, No.9, and No.10.
The bureau said last night that strong tropical storm “Wutip” was forecast to make landfall in Hainan Province early today, after which it was forecast to turn northeast and move closer to the western coast of Guangdong Province, when the strong tropical storm’s associated southwest airflow is expected to intensify the level of winds affecting Macau.
Consequently, the website said, the bureau concluded that there was a “medium or relatively high” probability that it would need to hoist the Strong Wind Signal No.3 between tonight and early tomorrow.
