Hong Kong issues highest storm warning as typhoon Wipha approaches
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Typhoon Wipha hits Hong Kong bringing on highest storm alert
Hong Kong issued its highest tropical cyclone warning as Typhoon Wipha battered the city. The observatory issued a T10 hurricane alert, its highest warning, saying “winds with mean speeds of 118 kilometres per hour or more are expected’ Authorities suspended Sunday’s classes at all day schools and daycare centres. About 500 flights were cancelled due to weather, while about 400 flights were rescheduled.
Wipha was located around 60km south-east of Hong Kong as of 10am on Sunday, according to the city’s weather observatory. Huge waves were spotted off the eastern coast of Hong Kong Island.
The observatory issued a T10 hurricane alert, its highest warning, saying “winds with mean speeds of 118 kilometres per hour or more are expected” and pose “considerable threat to Hong Kong”.
“Under the influence of its eyewall, hurricane force winds are affecting the southern part of the territory,” the observatory said, warning the public to “beware of destructive winds”.
China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, state news agency Xinhua said.
The storm, which reached typhoon strength overnight, was headed toward Macau and the neighbouring Chinese city of Zhuhai. It was forecast to make landfall late Sunday and continue moving west, reaching Vietnam later this week.
A representative from Hong Kong’s airport authority said on Sunday that about 500 flights were cancelled due to weather, while about 400 flights were rescheduled to take off or land later in the day.
Hundreds of people sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters. One man sought medical treatment at the emergency room of a public hospital on Sunday morning, with officials receiving more than a dozen reports of fallen trees.
Authorities suspended Sunday’s classes at all day schools and daycare centres.
Local trains offered limited services while operations in open sections were suspended.
Wipha brought heavy rains and flooding to the Philippines and two people were reported missing, according to the country’s national disaster council.
Hong Kong last used the T10 warning signal for Super Typhoon Saola in 2023.
Typhoon rains batter Hong Kong before Wipha weakens to severe tropical storm in Guangdong
Hong Kong’s weather authorities downgraded the typhoon warning to a No. 3 strong wind signal at 7:45 p.m. More than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts had exceeded 167 kph (103 mph) at some points. 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, also downgraded its typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe. The airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the Typhoon Wipha.
Hong Kong’s weather authorities downgraded the typhoon warning to a No. 3 strong wind signal at 7:45 p.m.
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Just after 4 p.m., they had lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours.
“Compared to previous typhoons like Mangkhut and Hato, which caused much more astonishing destruction, the impact this time was primarily limited to fallen trees and collapsed scaffolding,” Eastern District councillor Kenny Yuen told Reuters.
He was speaking in front of collapsed bamboo scaffolding that had fallen from a residential compound under renovation in North Point near the city’s harbour and been swept onto the road.
As the storm passed Hong Kong, more than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts had exceeded 167 kph (103 mph) at some points.
Item 1 of 6 Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu [1/6] Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city’s observatory said.
In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals during the typhoon, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported.
Wipha moved westward and made landfall on the coast of Taishan city in Guangdong at around 5:50 p.m., and then weakened to a severe tropical storm, China’s state-run CCTV reported.
Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said.
Hong Kong’s airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon.
Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK) , opens new tab cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket-change fees and arranged for rebooking.
Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.
Reporting by Colleen Howe, Farah Master, Joyce Zhou and Amy Lv; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence Fernandez
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Typhoon rains batter Hong Kong before Wipha weakens to severe tropical storm in Guangdong
Hong Kong’s weather authorities downgraded the typhoon warning to a No. 3 strong wind signal at 7:45 p.m. More than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts had exceeded 167 kph (103 mph) at some points. 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, also downgraded its typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe. The airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the Typhoon Wipha.
Hong Kong’s weather authorities downgraded the typhoon warning to a No. 3 strong wind signal at 7:45 p.m.
Sign up here.
Just after 4 p.m., they had lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours.
“Compared to previous typhoons like Mangkhut and Hato, which caused much more astonishing destruction, the impact this time was primarily limited to fallen trees and collapsed scaffolding,” Eastern District councillor Kenny Yuen told Reuters.
He was speaking in front of collapsed bamboo scaffolding that had fallen from a residential compound under renovation in North Point near the city’s harbour and been swept onto the road.
As the storm passed Hong Kong, more than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts had exceeded 167 kph (103 mph) at some points.
Item 1 of 6 Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu [1/6] Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city’s observatory said.
In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals during the typhoon, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported.
Wipha moved westward and made landfall on the coast of Taishan city in Guangdong at around 5:50 p.m., and then weakened to a severe tropical storm, China’s state-run CCTV reported.
Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said.
Hong Kong’s airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon.
Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK) , opens new tab cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket-change fees and arranged for rebooking.
Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.
Reporting by Colleen Howe, Farah Master, Joyce Zhou and Amy Lv; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence Fernandez
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Hong Kong Cancels Flights, Issues T10 Hurricane Signal As Typhoon Wipha Approaches
Hong Kong issued its highest tropical cyclone warning on Sunday morning. Typhoon Wipha battered the city, with authorities cancelling classes and grounding hundreds of flights. The observatory has issued the T10 hurricane alert, saying “winds with mean speeds of 118 kilometres per hour or more are expected” China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert.
Wipha was located around 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Hong Kong as of 10:00 am (0200 GMT), according to the city’s weather observatory. Huge waves were spotted off the eastern coast of Hong Kong Island.
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The observatory has issued the T10 hurricane alert, saying “winds with mean speeds of 118 kilometres per hour or more are expected” and pose “considerable threat to Hong Kong”.
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“Under the influence of its eyewall, hurricane force winds are affecting the southern part of the territory,” the observatory said, warning the public to “beware of destructive winds”.
China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, state news agency Xinhua said Saturday.
A representative from Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said on Sunday that around 500 flights have been cancelled due to weather, while around 400 flights are scheduled to take off or land later in the day.
More than 200 people have sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters.
One man sought medical treatment at the emergency room of a public hospital on Sunday morning, with officials receiving more than a dozen reports of fallen trees.
Authorities suspended Sunday’s classes at all day schools and daycare centres.
Local trains offered limited services while operations in open sections were suspended.
Wipha brought heavy rains and flooding to the Philippines and two people have been reported missing, according to the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Hong Kong last hoisted the T10 warning signal for Super Typhoon Saola in 2023.
Hong Kong issues highest storm warning as Typhoon Wipha approaches
Hong Kong issued its highest tropical cyclone warning on the morning of July 20. Typhoon Wipha battered the city, with the authorities cancelling classes and grounding hundreds of flights. Around 500 flights had been cancelled due to weather, while around 400 flights were scheduled to take off or land later in the day. China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, state news agency Xinhua said on July 19.
Wipha was located around 60km south-east of Hong Kong as at 10am local time, according to the city’s weather observatory.
Reuters reported that it was packing winds of more than 167kmh.
Huge waves were spotted off the eastern coast of Hong Kong Island.
The observatory has issued the T10 hurricane alert, saying “winds with mean speeds of 118kmh or more are expected” and pose “considerable threat to Hong Kong”.
“Under the influence of its eyewall, hurricane force winds are affecting the southern part of the territory,” the observatory said, warning the public to “beware of destructive winds”.
China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, state news agency Xinhua said on July 19.
A representative of Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said on July 20 that around 500 flights had been cancelled due to weather, while around 400 flights were scheduled to take off or land later in the day.
Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all of its flights arriving or departing Hong Kong airport between 5am and 6om on July 20. It waived fees for ticket changes and made arrangements for customers to rebook their flights.
More than 200 people have sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters.
One man sought medical treatment at the emergency room of a public hospital on the morning of July 20, with officials receiving more than a dozen reports of fallen trees.
The authorities suspended classes at all schools and daycare centres.
Local trains offered limited services, while operations in open sections were suspended.
In neighbouring Macau, the government planned to raise its alert to the No. 10 signal at 12:30pm local time, according to the Government Information Bureau’s website. Major hotels in the city, including the Venetian, the Parisian, the Londoner and the Four Seasons, plan to remain open.