The Observatory issued the No.8 storm signal at 5:20pm, Monday, to replace the T3 signal.
T3 signal hoisted as tropical storm #Merbok set to hit #HongKong around midnight https://t.co/wwMG0ioVy5 pic.twitter.com/q2F506lhcr
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) June 12, 2017
The storm is predicted to make landfall at around midnight.
One queue to get into MTR station, another to get to the train platform, as #HongKong braces for a #typhoon. Thank god folk here are polite pic.twitter.com/GGrQb0axdK
— Joyce Lau (@JoyceLauNews) June 12, 2017
Classes at all schools were suspended at 3pm.
Ferries from Central to Mui Wo and Cheung Chau will be suspended from 7:30pm onwards.
Rail and MTR bus services have been increased as commuters make their way home.
“[T]he maximum sustained winds recorded at Waglan Island, Green Island and Cheung Chau were 74, 60 and 41 kilometres per hour respectively,” the Observatory said on Monday afternoon.
“Although the region of gale wind associated with Merbok is rather small and mainly located to the east and south of its centre, gale force wind could still be expected to affect Hong Kong, in particular the eastern parts of the territory, when Merbok comes very close later today,” the Observatory said.
T8 signal raised as #typhoonmerbok approaches HK #merbok pic.twitter.com/w2q6GBe1W8
— Dave Coulson (@cheesindave) June 12, 2017
Week-long washout
Showers and thunderstorms are expected for the rest of the week as a trough of low pressure lingers over the south China coast.
I’ve never seen the Tung Chung line so packed. Rush hour creates no waiting times, but typhoons somehow collapse everything. pic.twitter.com/DssT73J2pw
— Leo Weese 獅草地 (@LeoAW) June 12, 2017
During the T8 signal, the public are advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in watersports.
