Macau’s Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has announced that it will hoist Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No.8 at 4 a.m. tomorrow.
According to a statement by the observatory at 11 p.m., “Local winds are expected to strengthen gradually. Strong-level winds with gusts are affecting [Macau’s] bridges. Road users are advised to pay attention to traffic safety. Motorcyclists should travel between Macau Peninsula and Taipa Island through motorcycle lanes on Sai Van Bridge or Macau Bridge.”
Signal No.8 is the third highest of Macau’s five-level tropical cyclone warning system. The weather station said earlier today that there was a “medium to relatively high” probability that it will hoist Signal No.9 early tomorrow (July 20), while there was the probability of hoisting Signal No.10 – its highest – was “medium” during daytime tomorrow.
According to the SMG website, Signal No.10 means that “the centre of a tropical cyclone will strike at the immediate approaches of Macau. Winds with a sustained speed exceeding118 km/h are expected or blowing in Macau, with gusts of great intensity.”
At 11 p.m., Severe Tropical Storm “Wipha” was estimated to be about 370 km east-southeast of Macau. It was forecast to move west-northwest at around 25km/h, the bureau said.
Meanwhile, the Yellow Storm Surge Warning was issued at 11 p.m. today. The bureau forecast that flooding will occur in low-lying areas between 2 p.m. tomorrow and 1 a.m. on Monday. The weather station predicted that the highest flooding level will reach between 0.5 metre and 1.0 metre. The Yellow Storm Surge Warning is the second highest of a five-level system.
