Hong Kong may issue T1 warning on Friday as potential cyclone develops

Hong Kong Observatory will consider issuing a T1 typhoon warning signal on Friday and Saturday, urging the public to stay away from the shoreline and refrain from water sports.

The forecaster on Thursday said the area of low pressure to the north of Luzon would develop into a tropical cyclone in the coming few days and come within 800km (497 miles) of Hong Kong.

It said the cyclone would remain near the northeastern part of the South China Sea and intensify.

“Depending on its development and impact to Hong Kong, the Observatory will assess the need to issue the tropical cyclone warning signal later tomorrow to Saturday,” it said.

“There are uncertainties in its subsequent movement. It is more likely to turn northwards in the general direction of the vicinity of Taiwan to the coast of eastern Guangdong.”

The Observatory said there would be swells in the next couple of days.