Hong Kong authorities issued its third-highest storm signal early Saturday (Oct. 9), shutting down transport networks, schools and offices as tropical storm Lionrock lashed the northern South China Sea.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised the No 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal at 6:40 am and said it would likely remain in place through the morning.
The signal means that winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometers per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.
Under Lionrock's combined effect with the northeast monsoon, strong to gale force winds prevail over Hong Kong, the weather observatory said.
"Lionrock's circulation is rather broad," it said, adding that there will be occasional storm force winds on the high ground over the southwestern part of Hong Kong.
At 10 am, Lionrock was centered about 550 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move northwest slowly across Hainan Island and into Beibu Wan.
The forecaster said it will consider lowering the No 8 signal to No 3 in the early part of the afternoon depending on the wind condition.
The Education Bureau announced that classes of all day schools are suspended Saturday.
The citywide vaccination services were also suspended.
"The community vaccination centers will open and resume vaccination service three hours after the cancellation of the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No 8 and they will operate until the normal closing time," the government said in a statement Saturday morning. It added that for those affected, their booking will be rescheduled to a later date and they will be informed of their new appointment date and time by SMS notification.
If their booking is for the second vaccination dose and the vaccination centers resume service later today, they may go to the centers they selected in their original booking during the remaining opening hours for vaccination today, it added.
Lionrock combined with surging northern monsoon winds and heavy rain on Friday to batter the city, with one female construction worker killed when scaffolding collapsed in the Happy Valley neighborhood.
(Source: China Daily)
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