The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has warned that Typhoon Ragasa could intensify into a super typhoon, bringing threatening winds, flooding, and sea levels comparable to the destructive Typhoons Hato (2017) and Mangkhut (2018). In its latest update on Sunday, September 21, the HKO said Ragasa, named after a Filipino word meaning rapid or fast motion, is expected to continue strengthening before edging closer to Guangdong’s coast on Tuesday. An amber rainstorm warning was issued at 9:10 a.m. on Sunday as the city also experienced the remnants of Tropical Storm Mitag.

“Seas will be very high with swells. Under the influence of significant storm surge, the sea level over coastal areas by then may be similar to that of Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018,” the HKO warned.

Areas threatened by landfall

Hong Kong is one of the areas bracing for hurricane-force winds, and it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon and cause flooding in coastal regions, according to the Hong Kong Observatory’s storm tracker. Macau is also expected to be affected, as authorities have urged residents to stockpile food and essential supplies ahead of the storm’s arrival.

For the Philippines, as the China Daily Asia reported, citing the Philippine weather bureau, the storm was located 535 km east of Tuguegarao City in northern Luzon, moving west-northwest at 15 km/h. It may pass close to or make landfall over Batanes or the Babuyan Islands on Monday before moving toward Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The bureau further warned, “There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters within the next 48 hours over low-lying or exposed coastal villages of the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.”

Typhoon Ragasa’s path

The HKO said Ragasa will move towards the Luzon Strait and intensify over the next two days. It is expected to be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning, passing to the south of the city while at super typhoon strength.

Under Hong Kong’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals system, the T8 signal is issued when gale- or storm-force winds are expected, while the highest, T10, is hoisted if sustained winds exceed 118 km/h with gusts of more than 220 km/h, according to The Standard.

Typhoon Ragasa’ speed

The Philippine weather bureau also reported in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Sunday that Ragasa had already intensified into a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h and gusts up to 230 km/h, as per China Daily Asia. According to the South China Morning Post, citing the Observatory’s storm tracker, maximum wind speeds could reach 210 km/h at 2am on Wednesday, exceeding the 185 km/h recorded when Super Typhoon Hato hit Hong Kong in 2017.

Super Typhoon Mangkhut, one of the most devastating storms to hit the city, brought gusts exceeding 250 km/h when it made landfall in 2018.