The Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 3:30 p.m. today, as Tropical Storm Higos edged closer to the city and gained strength.
The bureau said in a statement that "the signal No.3 will remain in effect for a period of time. The local winds will strengthen.”
According to the statement, at 3 p.m. Higos was located about 290 km south-east of Macau and was moving toward the western coast of Guangdong province.
The statement warned that as the winds over Macau's three “bridges are expected to be strong and gusty, drivers are advised to pay attention to traffic safety." The observatory urged motorcyclists to travel between the peninsula and Taipa via the motorcycle lane on Sai VanBridge.
According to the statement, the hoisting of signal No. 3 "means that under the influence of a tropical cyclone, winds with a sustained speed of 41 to 62 km/h are expected or blowing and the gusts may exceed 110 km/h in Macau.
Besides, according to a separate statement, the Yellow Storm Surge Warning is in force. The bureau forecast that flooding will occur in low-lying areas until noon tomorrow. The highest flooding level will be about 0.5 to 1.0 metre, according to the forecast.
Macau's weather forecasters had hoisted the standby signal No. 1 at 8 p.m. yesterday.
