Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has issued its first black rainstorm warning of the year as heavy downpours hit the city.
The Hong Kong Observatory raised the signal at 9.10am on Tuesday, replacing a red warning that was put up half an hour earlier. It first issued an amber warning at 8.05am.
It said that showers associated with a broad trough of low pressure were affecting the coast of Guangdong.
Showers were particularly heavy on Lamma Island, with severe rainstorms of more than 100mm (4 inches) of hourly rainfall being recorded, the Observatory said. Over in Sai Kung, more than 70mm of hourly rainfall had also fallen or were expected to fall.
The forecaster called on members of the public to avoid travelling until the black signal was no longer in force and traffic conditions improved.
