T1 Signal in Force as Saudel Brings Showers, Strong Winds on First Day of School
HK01 · 24 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Observatory issued Standby Signal No. 1 at 6:10 PM on Monday (August 31) as Tropical Depression Saudel's remnants re-intensified near Hainan Island and began moving eastward across the northern South China Sea. On Tuesday (September 1), the first day of the new school year for hundreds of thousands of students, the T1 signal remains in force and is expected to stay until at least noon, with meteorologists assessing whether an upgrade to Strong Wind Signal No. 3 will be necessary. The system is forecast to pass within approximately 200 kilometres south of Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon before approaching the coast of eastern Guangdong.
Key Points
- The Observatory issued Standby Signal No. 1 at 6:10 PM on August 31, with the signal expected to remain in force until at least noon on September 1 .
- As of Tuesday morning, Tropical Depression Saudel was located approximately 400 kilometres southwest-south of Hong Kong, moving east-northeast at about 22 kilometres per hour .
- The system is predicted to pass within 200 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon before gradually strengthening and approaching eastern Guangdong by Tuesday night into Wednesday .
- The Observatory warned that unless Saudel significantly intensifies and its associated strong wind zone moves closer to the Pearl River Estuary, the chance of issuing Strong Wind Signal No. 3 remains relatively low .
- Tuesday's weather is forecast to be mainly cloudy with squally showers and thunderstorms, some becoming heavy, with winds reaching Force 4 to 5, offshore Force 5, and up to Force 6 on high ground .
Why It Matters
With hundreds of thousands of students returning to school on Tuesday amid adverse weather conditions, parents and commuters should factor in additional travel time due to potential traffic disruptions from heavy showers and reduced visibility . The convergence of Saudel with the Northeast Monsoon is creating an unusually windy start to September, underscoring the importance of monitoring official Observatory updates as conditions can deteriorate rapidly during the transitional monsoon season.
With hundreds of thousands of students returning to school on Tuesday amid adverse weather conditions, parents and commuters should factor in additional travel time due to potential traffic disruptions from heavy showers and reduced visibility . The convergence of Saudel with the Northeast Monsoon is creating an unusually windy start to September, underscoring the importance of monitoring official Observatory updates as conditions can deteriorate rapidly during the transitional monsoon season.