Macau's observatory said in a statement tonight that it will hoist the typhoon signal No. 8NE at 11:30 p.m., which will replace signal No. 3 which was hoisted earlier in the day.
At 10 p.m., according to the statement, Typhoon Higos was located about 150 km south-east of Macau and moving west towards to the Pearl River Delta.
Signal No. 8 means that a tropical cyclone continues to approach Macau. Winds with sustained speeds of 63 to 117 km/h are expected or blowing and the gusts may exceed 180 km/h in Macau, according to the local observatory's five-level storm warning system (signals 1, 3, 8, 9, 10). Signal No. 8 is the third highest.
Signal No.8 is further divided into Signal No.8NE, Signal No.8 SE, Signal No.8SW and Signal No.8NW, each indicating the possible wind direction in the next few hours.
An Orange Storm Warning was issued by the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) at 8:30 p.m.. The bureau forecast that flooding will occur in low-lying areas between 5 a.m. and noon tomorrow. The highest flooding level is predicted to reach 1:50 metres.
The Orange Storm Surge Warning is the third highest in Macau's six-level storm warning system.
Meanwhile, the government's Civil Protection Operations Centre (COPC) urged residents tonight to stay away from basements and underground car parks as long as the storm surge warning is in force.
