The Observatory said hail was spotted in Tai Po on Saturday afternoon, shortly after it issued the amber rainstorm alert while warning squally thunderstorms and violent gusts could also affect Hong Kong.
Violent gusts of about 100km/h to 110km/h were recorded at Cheung Chau and Lau Fau Shan at 3.15pm, it said, adding hail was seen in Tai Po at 3.20pm. It had earlier warned that hail could affect the city.
The amber rainstorm warning was issued at 3pm. The alert signals that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimetres in an hour, and is likely to continue.
“An area of intense thundery showers to the west of the Pearl River [Delta] is gradually edging closer to Hong Kong,” the forecaster said.
“Locally, showers will be heavier at first, with severe squally thunderstorms in the next couple of hours. Members of the public should be on the alert.”
