Typoon Usagi

Who would have known that within the 1st month of arriving in HK I would already be able to experience a storm signal #8. 

Typhoon season for Hong Kong starts in May and ends in November. Being right next to the sea, Hong Kong experiences an average of 6 typhoons a year.

After learning Usagi was the most powerful Typhoon in the world in 2013, thus far, I was scared on what was to follow. 

About a day or two before the storm was predicted to hit Hong Kong, I remember the news reports warning everyone of the disaster to come. Super markets everywhere was selling-out on bread, canned food, and drinks.  Everyone was preparing for the worst. Many flights, depending on its course, were canceled causing many people to be stranded in the Hong Kong Airport. Many boat/ferry rides were also out-of-service due to the rough seas and approaching storm. 

The Sunday the storm was supposed to hit the weather wasn't too bad. The morning was filled with a lot of gray clouds, thick air, and slight humidity. After the sun had set, the sky poured for a little while but pretty much drizzled the rest of the night till morning. 

Because Hong Kong was still on storm signal #8, all shops and restaurants were closed by 7:00PM. Knowing this everyone either ate dinner at the hall canteen before 7:00, or did what my hall mates and I did, which was order takeout from some fast food restaurant at around 6:00. 

The next day, whether students had to attend class or not depended on the weather signals and time they were put up. If the storm signal #8 was still up by 7:00AM then all morning classes up until 1:30PM were canceled. If the signal was still up at 12:00 noon, then all classes from 1:30PM-6:30PM were canceled. Lastly, if the signal was still up at 4:00 then all evening classes are canceled. Any signal below #8 meant all students had to attend their classes, pouring or not. 

Lucky for Hong Kong residents, Usagi's course had changed from the one predicted. Unfortunately, Usagi's wrath had moved upward toward south-east China hitting the Guangdong province. CNN reports at least 25 in China are dead due to this natural disaster. 

Hong Kong Weather Signals

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals

• 1 = Stand By
• 3 = Strong Winds
• 8 = Gale or Storm Force Winds
• 9 = Increasing Gale or Storm Force Winds
• 10 = Hurricane 

Rainstorm Warning Signals

• Amber: heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimeters in an hour.
• Red: Heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 50 millimeters in an hour and is likely to continue. 
• Black: Very heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 70 millimeters in an hour, and is likely to continue.