The Hong Kong Observatory said it will issue the Standby Signal, No. 1 at 12.20pm on Monday and consider higher signals on Tuesday, as Severe Typhoon Fung-wong moves closer to the territory.

The storm moved within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong on Monday morning after smashing into the Philippines, killing at least two people and forcing the evacuations of a million others.

The storm had crossed over the north of the archipelago's most populous island Luzon, weather bureau PAGASA said, with torrential rain, sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts of up to 230 kph.

The observatory expects Fung-wong to turn northwards over the northeastern part of the South China Sea, and pass within 400 km east of the Hong Kong at its closest point – either on Tuesday night or early on Wednesday.

It will assess the need of issuing higher storm signals on Tuesday, depending on the storm’s intensity, its distance from Hong Kong and local wind conditions.

Forecasters expect winds in Hong Kong to strengthen late on Tuesday to Wednesday, while they warn that minor flooding may occur over some coastal low-lying areas on Monday night to the small hours of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, temperatures in urban areas are expected to fall to around 20 degrees in the middle of the week, under the combined effect of Fung-wong and the northeast monsoon.
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Last updated: 2025-11-10 HKT 08:40