The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Friday afternoon, after earlier telling residents to brace for hail and violent gusts as severe thunderstorms approached the city.
The forecaster sent out the lowest rainstorm warning of its three-tiered system at 4.35pm on Friday. Less than an hour earlier, it issued several special weather tips and noted that hail could affect the city in the “next couple of hours”.
An amber signal means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over the city, exceeding 30mm in an hour, and is likely to continue.
“There will be flooding in some low-lying and poorly drained areas. People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to the risk posed by the heavy rain and flooding,” the observatory said.
It also warned of possible flash floods amid the heavy rain.
