Typhoon Hato brought winds of 130kmh to Lantau this morning, flooding Tai O, bringing air traffic to a halt and pounding local beaches with huge waves.

The Hong Kong Observatory recorded sustained wind speeds of 130 kmh at Cheung Chau and 90 kmh at Chek Lap Kok.

In flood-prone Tai O on Lantau’s western end, waters began rising very fast at about 10am and reached a depth of three metres in some places, according to Oriental Daily. 

Police, fire and Civil Aid Service crews helped evacuate dozens of residents from their homes and move them to shelter.

So far no major injuries or damage have been reported.

At 2:10pm the Observatory hoisted the no. 8 signal, replacing the hurricane signal 10 that had been issued this morning. It was the first time in five years that at signal 10 had been issued.

It also lifted thunderstorm and amber rainstorm warnings, but says gale force winds are still affecting Lantau and southwestern Hong Kong.

It will consider downgrading to signal 3 before dusk.

The MTR says it is preparing to run trains on the Tung Chung and Airport Express lines, New Lantao Bus has restarted service on routes 37 and 38 in Tung Chung.

Air services are also returning to normal. Reportedly only one plane, a KLM flight from Amsterdam, landed at Chek Lap Kok this morning.

 

The Observatory has raised the no. 10 hurricane signal as Typhoon Hato, bearing winds of 155 kmh, heads for Hong Kong.

If Hatao stays on track, Lantau could take close to the full force. The typhoon is tracking toward the Pearl River Estuary and forecast to reach as close as 50km south of the city.

The Observatory has reported maximum sustained wind speeds of 155 kmh.

All schools, bus and ferries are closed and dozens of flights have been cancelled.

The MTR is running a very limited service, with no airport express and no service on the Tung Chung line except between Hong Kong station and Kowloon.

The Observatory raised the no. 10 signal at 9:10am, an hour after raising the no. 9 signal which indicates sharply inceasing wind speeds.  It has also posted an amber rain warning.

It warns of “severe sea water flooding” in low-lying areas and urges people to stay away from the shoreline and stay indoors.

At 9am Typhoon Hato was about 80 kilometres south of the city and forecast to move west-northwest at about 25 kmh toward the Pearl River Estuary.

In the past few hours, local winds were strengthening significantly. Storm force winds are affecting offshore waters. In the coming few hours, Hato will be closest to the territory, skirting about 50 kilometres to the south of Hong Kong. When the local winds strengthen further, the Observatory will consider issuing a higher signal.

The hurricane signal no. 10 has only been raised twice since 1984 and was last issued in 2012 for Typhoon Vicente.

After days of sweltering heat, Hong Kong is bracing for Typhoon Hato.

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) hoisted the strong wind warning signal this afternoon and says it may raise the T8 at around midnight. The T1 warning has been current since 8:40am.

Already dozens of flights have been affected. Most Cathay and Dragon flights scheduled to arrive or depart between 6pm and 5am Wednesday have been cancelled, Cathay Pacific said.

Hato is likely to be closest to Hong Kong tomorrow morning, bringing with it sustained wind speeds as high as 130kmh.

At 6pm, Hato was an estimated 410 kilometres east-southeast of Hong Kong and expected to move west-northwest at about 25 km/h.

The HKO’s new cyclone tracker says the typhoon has an 80% probability of hitting Hong Kong. Observatory senior scientific officer Queenie Lam Ching-chi told SCMP.com:

“Hato will definitely pose a threat to Hong Kong. With an intensity of 130kmh at its centre, it has all the conditions to develop into a stronger storm,” she said. “But a higher signal will depend on the data we obtain on its movement and wind structure.”

With the approach from the southeast Hato will be felt most strongly in low-lying coastal areas, including Lantau.

Even if Hong Kong avoids the worst of Hato, the Observatory predicts a week of cloud and rain..

The Observatory said its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters early this afternoon had recorded its highest ever temperature – 36.6 degrees.