Hong Kong prepared for super typhoon Saola on Friday by raising the strong wind signal to No. 8, effectively halting most businesses, schools, and the stock exchange.
With winds exceeding 200 kph (125 mph), Saola is expected to move towards eastern Guangdong, potentially becoming one of the five strongest typhoons to hit the province since 1949.
It is predicted to pass within 100 km (60 miles) of Hong Kong on Friday night and Saturday morning, rapidly worsening weather conditions.
Shoppers need to stock up on essentials as Saola nears Hong Kong.The Hong Kong Observatory is considering issuing higher cyclone warnings, with typhoon signals ranked from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest.
Schools will be closed on Friday, even though it is many students’ first day of term. On Thursday afternoon, fresh food markets in downtown Wan Chai saw crowds and shortages, while supermarkets experienced long queues as residents stocked up in preparation for the storm.
The Observatory forecasts heavy rain, violent winds, and significant water level rises, potentially leading to severe flooding until Saturday.
Cathay Pacific has canceled all flights in and out of Hong Kong from 2 pm Friday to 10 am Saturday, with further delays possible depending on the typhoon’s path.
Additionally, typhoon Haikui is approaching Taiwan and is expected to make landfall on the northern part of the island on Sunday before heading towards Fuzhou in eastern China, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.