The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday (June 18), marking the second time the highest rainstorm warning has been issued in a single day.
Earlier, at 6:10 p.m., the Observatory issued the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal, indicating that heavy rain exceeding 50 millimeters per hour had been recorded or was expected across a wide area of HK, with the downpour likely to continue.
The Observatory said an intense thunderstorm band was affecting the city and that it was closely assessing whether the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal would need to be issued.
At 5:50 p.m., the Observatory issued a special weather warning, saying that a strong thunderstorm band located west of the Pearl River Estuary was gradually moving toward HK. It warned that rainfall across the territory was expected to intensify again within the next one to two hours.
Earlier in the day, the Observatory issued a Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 12:55 p.m., the second Black Rainstorm Warning recorded this year.
After remaining in force for more than two hours, the Black Rainstorm Warning was downgraded to a Red Rainstorm Warning Signal at 3:05 p.m., before being further downgraded to a Yellow Rainstorm Warning Signal at 3:40 p.m.
The Observatory later reissued the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal at 6:10 p.m. before upgrading it to a second Black Rainstorm Warning Signal at 6:35 p.m.
Related News:
Major restaurant chains remain open despite Black Rainstorm Signal
Black rainstorm floods Tuen Mun road: Driver abandons car after being trapped
Comment