Macau’s observatory has announced that it will hoist Typhoon Signal No. 8 (T8) at 5 p.m. today and that the probability of hoisting Typhoon Signal No. 10 (Macau’s highest storm warning signal) early tomorrow is “relatively high”.
According to a statement by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) at about 2 p.m. today, Super Typhoon “Ragasa” has entered the South China Sea within 500 km of Macau.
“Based on the current forecast track, ‘Ragasa’ will continue moving in a west-northwest direction over the next two days, gradually approaching Macau. Winds will begin to strengthen significantly, with showers and thunderstorms later today, and the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 will be issued at 17:00 [5 p.m.],” the statement said.
The statement noted that Ragasa was expected to closely approach the Pearl River Estuary early tomorrow morning, and that the probability of moving within 100 km of Macau could not be ruled out.
The bureau also said that winds may reach hurricane force of 12 or above for a sustained period, accompanied by persistent heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. It urged residents living on upper floors to prepare for severe impacts from hurricane-force winds. The possibility of issuing Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 9 (T9) at around midnight was high, the observatory said, adding that the probability of issuing T10 in the early morning tomorrow was “relatively high”.
The bureau also mentioned that it expected a “significant storm surge”, adding that if this coincides with the astronomical high tide, storm surge flooding comparable to that experienced during “Hato” (September 2017) and “Mangkhut” (September 2018) may hit Macau tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Macau's civil protection authorities have announced a raft of typhoon protection measures today, including the suspension of all public bus services at 4:30 p.m. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) closed at 3 p.m., and all ferry links with Hong Kong and Guangdong were suspended earlier today. The local airport has reported dozens of flight cancellations since yesterday.
The four Macau-Taipa bridges will be closed at 6:30 p.m., with the exception of the enclosed lower deck of the Sai Van Bridge, which will only be closed if T9 is hoisted.
Macau’s land border checkpoints (Barrier Gate, Hengqin, Qingmao, and Zhuhai-Macau Transborder Industrial Park) will close at 7 p.m., apart from the vehicular border checkpoint at the Macau-Hengqin checkpoint, which will only be closed if T9 is hoisted.
The civil protection authorities have been evacuating residents from flood-prone low-lying areas this afternoon.
