The Hong Kong Observatory raised its black rainstorm signal at 11:10 am today, marking the fifth such warning this year - breaking the previous annual record of three set in 2000 and 2006. The latest deluge lasted 3 hours and 20 minutes, sending determined workers splashing through flooded streets as they rushed to offices.
Despite the torrential downpour, the city's workforce pressed on with their routines. MTR stations overflowed with commuters clutching coffee cups and breakfast rice balls, while some businesses remained shuttered due to the severe weather. The Labour Department reminded employers to implement flexible arrangements under its extreme weather guidelines, suggesting staggered returns or remote work when black rain warnings are lifted within three hours of shift end.
This year's unprecedented frequency of extreme rainfall events has tested Hong Kong's urban resilience, with today's warning setting another sobering milestone in the city's meteorological history. The Observatory continues to monitor the unstable weather pattern as climate experts warn of increasingly volatile weather conditions in the region.
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