Tag: typhoon

What are Tropical Cyclones?

weather signals

Tropical cyclones are classified in accordance with the World Meteorological Organization’s recommendation by the maximum sustained wind speeds near the centre. In Hong Kong, the classification is defined in terms of wind speeds averaged over a period of 10 minutes as follows :

Tropical Cyclone Classification

 

Maximum 10-minute mean wind near the centre

Tropical Depression

up to 62 km/h

Tropical Storm

63 to 87 km/h

Severe Tropical Storm

88 to 117 km/h

Typhoon

118 to 149 km/h

Severe Typhoon

150 to 184 km/h

Super Typhoon

185 km/h or above

What do the HK Observatory Signals Mean?
1 – A tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 km of Hong Kong and may affect the territory.

3 – Strong wind is expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near sea level, with a sustained speed of 41-62km/h, and gusts which may exceed 110km/h, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

8 – Gale or storm force wind is expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near sea level, with a sustained wind speed of 63-117km/h from the quarter indicated and gusts which may exceed 180 km/h, and the wind condition is expected to persist.

9 – Gale or storm force wind is increasing or expected to increase significantly in strength.

10 – Hurricane force wind is expected or blowing with sustained speed reaching upwards from 118 km/h and gusts that may exceed 220 km/h.

Here’s a list of storms that have ‘hit’ Hong Kong since 2012
2012:
Doksuri (No.8)
Kai Tak (No.8)
Vicente (No.10)
2013:
Utor (No.8)
Usagi (No.8)
2014:
Kalmaegi (No. 8)
2015:
Linfa (No. 8)
2016:
Nida (No.8)

For the latest HK Weather news check the HK Observatory’s website

Haiyan Help!

If you are organizing a fund raising event or providing free services (without any strings/conditions attached) to help those affected by typhoon Haiyan, then please send the details to [email protected] and bc will freely help publicise and raise awareness for your aid events/efforts.

There is a lot of corruption within the Philipines and the scale and breadth of this natural disaster will undoubtedly mean lots of people looking for a cut to “help” ensure the aid money and goods get to those who need it most… opening your wallet to help is a start, but take the time to make sure your aid gets to the people you think it’s going to!

The relief organisations would prefer cash but if you want to make a donations of canned goods The Afreight Group – have said people may bring their donations to the Afreight office in Central or their warehouse in Ap Lei Chau:

CENTRAL Shop 371-372 Worldwide Plaza 19 Des Voeux Road Central, HK

AP LEI CHAU Unit 16, 4/F, Oceanic Industrial Centre #2 Lee Lok St., Ap Lei Chau, HK

Donors will be asked to register their names and donation particulars so that Afreight can include these in their report to the Philippine Consulate General, which is monitoring donations from the HK community.

Afreight will deliver the donated goods to any of the following relief organizations:
Philippine Red Cross
MA Kapuso Foundation
ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya
as they have the capability to reach the intended recipients in the Visayas directly.