The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issued the T1 standby warning signal at 12.20pm on Monday and is considering raising the higher T8 signal on Tuesday afternoon, as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches the city.
The HKO will hoist the T3 signal at 9.40pm on Monday and is considering issuing the T8 signal between 1pm and 4pm on Tuesday, the weather service said in a notice issued on Monday afternoon.
“With Ragasa edging closer to the coast of Guangdong, local winds will strengthen gradually,” the HKO said.
“The local weather is expected to deteriorate rapidly later tomorrow (23 September)… The weather will be persistently adverse on Wednesday (24 September),” it added.
“Gale to storm force winds will prevail locally, and winds may reach hurricane force offshore and on high ground. There will be frequent heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Seas will be very high with swells.”
As of noon on Monday, Ragasa – Filipino for rapid or fast motion – was located about 890 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong, gradually moving across the Luzon Strait and entering the northern part of the South China Sea, according to the HKO.
Maximum sustained winds near its centre have reached 230 kilometres per hour, making it one of the strongest typhoons in recent years.
Ragasa is projected to be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning when high winds and flooding are expected. The sea level in coastal areas may be similar to that seen during super typhoons Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.
Hong Kong International Airport is considering grounding all flights for 36 hours in anticipation of Ragasa, Bloomberg reported.
The halt may run from as early as 6pm on Tuesday to 6am on Thursday and will be the longest in recent years, the news agency said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The city’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific said in a statement on Sunday that it was closely monitoring Ragasa and had waived ticket-change fees for passengers affected by the super typhoon.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has called off its races on Wednesday due to Ragasa.
According to the government, its emergency support centre is making advanced preparations to brace for the incoming storm, with the Drainage Services Department clearing drains at around 240 locations which are prone to flooding.
The Fire Services Department, the police force, the Civil Aid Service, and the Auxiliary Medical Service are also on standby, the government said.
Typhoon Signal 1
The No.1 signal is the “Standby” signal. It is issued when a tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may affect the territory.
- All schools and government services remain open.
- All public transport remains in service.
- The government advice is to take the tropical cyclone into account when planning activities and be wary of potential strong winds over offshore waters.
Observatory signals currently in force
- Cold Weather Warning was issued at 16:20 HKT (1 Jan 2026)
- Yellow Fire Danger Warning was issued at 06:00 HKT (1 Jan 2026)
Climate crisis
Tropical cyclones – which get their energy from warm ocean water – are strengthening and become ever more destructive because of warming seas. Over 90 per cent of excess heat in the atmosphere is ending up in oceans, according to NASA, as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space.
