Hong Kong Observatory Upgrades System to Tropical Storm Amid Naming Dispute with Tokyo
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Observatory has escalated a tropical cyclone to tropical storm status, but the system remains unnamed as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Tokyo continues to classify it as a tropical depression. The storm is forecast to approach Hong Kong's southwest at 600 km on Tuesday before making landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula.
Key Points
- The Hong Kong Observatory issued an upgrade to tropical storm status on Friday morning (August 21), with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center .
- The Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Tokyo, operating under the World Meteorological Organization, still rates the system as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 15 m/s (30 knots), below the naming threshold of 18 m/s (35 knots) .
- Once naming criteria are met, the storm will be designated "Narra" (紫檀), a name contributed by the Philippines .
- As of early Saturday morning, the tropical storm was located 250 km northwest of Haikou, moving slowly in the Beibu Gulf area .
- The forecast track shows the storm turning westward Saturday, southward Sunday, eastward Monday, and northeastward Tuesday night for landfall on the Leizhou Peninsula, before weakening to a tropical depression and moving toward Zhanjiang, approximately 400 km southwest of Hong Kong by Thursday .
- The China Central Meteorological Observatory predicts the system will strengthen to severe tropical storm status tonight with maximum winds of 10 levels (25 m/s or 90 km/h) .
- Hong Kong will experience fresh southerly winds (Force 4-5) from Monday through Wednesday, with winds reaching Force 6 on highlands and offshore areas .
- An extensive pressure trough will bring unsettled weather to the coast of southern China and areas east of Taiwan over the coming days .
Why It Matters
The discrepancy between the Hong Kong Observatory's classification and the Tokyo-based RSMC's assessment highlights ongoing challenges in tropical cyclone naming protocols across different meteorological agencies, potentially affecting public warning systems and preparedness measures across the Pearl River Delta region .
The discrepancy between the Hong Kong Observatory's classification and the Tokyo-based RSMC's assessment highlights ongoing challenges in tropical cyclone naming protocols across different meteorological agencies, potentially affecting public warning systems and preparedness measures across the Pearl River Delta region .