Hurricane Yagi tracker: China and Hong Kong elevate emergency alerts as dozens of flights cancelled

The Hong Kong Inventory Change (HKEX) might be closed on Friday morning attributable to Hurricane Yagi and will stay shuttered for the entire day.

The storm has prompted a No 8 alert from the Hong Kong Observatory, the third stage in a five-tier warning system.Issued at 6.20pm native time, this alert signifies gale or storm-force winds close to sea stage and is anticipated to stay in impact no less than till midday on Friday.

Below the present guidelines of the HKEX, a Hurricane Sign No 8 results in the cancellation of the morning buying and selling session.The standing of the afternoon session will depend upon whether or not the alert is lowered by midday.

If the sign remains to be in place, buying and selling for the day might be totally suspended.Along with monetary market impacts, Hurricane Yagi has additionally led to dozens of flight cancellations in Hong Kong and Hainan.

Thailand’s Meteorological Division has warned of heavy rain and windstorms this weekend as Tremendous Hurricane Yagi approaches.

The storm, transferring slowly westward from the South China Sea, is anticipated to move over Hainan Island in China and attain northern Vietnam by Friday or Saturday, bringing vital climate impacts.

Thanasit Iam-ananchai, appearing director-general of the Meteorological Division, mentioned northern and northeastern Thailand will see heavy downpours and powerful winds on Saturday and Sunday because of Yagi’s outer bands.

Coastal areas alongside the Andaman Sea and the higher Gulf of Thailand can even expertise monsoon-driven rains on Thursday and Friday, with warnings of potential flash floods and runoffs.

Small boats are suggested to stay ashore alongside each coasts till Sunday attributable to tough seas.

Whereas Yagi’s principal impression is centred on southern China, it is usually anticipated to have an effect on Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, bringing vital rainfall to the area over the weekend.

The most recent rainfall forecast from AccuWeather exhibits Yagi is anticipated to convey as much as 16 inches (400 mm) of rain, with some areas presumably receiving as a lot as 30 inches (760 mm), throughout southern China, Hainan Island, northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and northern Thailand between Friday and Sunday.

Storm Yagi has intensified into an excellent storm because it churns in the direction of China, making it presumably the strongest storm to hit the nation in practically a decade.

Packing most sustained winds of 209kmph (130mph) close to its eye, Yagi registers because the world’s second-most highly effective tropical cyclone in 2024 to date, after the Class 5 Atlantic Hurricane Beryl.

Its epicentre was situated round 400km southeast of Zhanjiang Metropolis in Guangdong province on Thursday night, transferring westward at 10-15kmph.

The storm may have the largest impression on Guangdong and Hainan, with landfall anticipated between Qionghai and Dianbai on Friday however Vietnam, Laos and Thailand also can count on heavy rainfall.

Main cities like Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangzhou are bracing for potential flooding and disruptions.

This is the trail for Tremendous Hurricane Yagi and forecast for subsequent few days.

Hong Kong will halt all faculty lessons tomorrow as Tremendous Hurricane Yagi approaches, bringing heavy rain and powerful winds.

The suspension impacts all day colleges, together with kindergartens, main, secondary, and particular colleges, the Training Bureau introduced on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will challenge its No 8 storm sign – the third stage in a five-tiered system – at 6pm (native time) on Thursday, and it’s set to stay in impact till no less than midday on Friday.

Thursday night lessons have additionally been cancelled as a precaution.

Tremendous Hurricane Yagi is anticipated to move 300km southwest of Hong Kong on Friday morning. The present No 3 warning has been in place since yesterday evening.

Dozens of flights have additionally been cancelled.

Vietnam’s prime minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a name for pressing motion as Tremendous Hurricane Yagi approaches, with the storm anticipated to impression northern the and central areas of the nation.

The storm, which intensified on Thursday whereas churning in the direction of China’s Hainan province, is anticipated to convey harmful winds and heavy rains to coastal and inland areas of Laos, Vietnam and Thailand over the following few days.

A directive was despatched by the Vietnamese PM to leaders of provinces and cities, together with main areas comparable to Hanoi, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh, urging them to prioritise storm preparedness and public security, in accordance with Vietnam Plus.

The storm is forecast to impression the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam on Friday because it makes landfall in China, bringing sturdy winds, heavy rainfall, and the chance of floods and landslides.

Native authorities are instructed to postpone non-essential conferences, give attention to securing susceptible communities, and shield crucial infrastructure like dykes, dams, and transportation networks, the information outlet reported.

Coastal areas and offshore vessels are additionally being secured, and all efforts are being made to forestall city flooding and harm to agricultural manufacturing.

Deputy prime minister Tran Hong Ha has been tasked with overseeing response efforts, making certain swift motion to minimise the storm’s impression on lives and property.

Macau has raised its alert stage as Tremendous Hurricane Yagi, presently within the northern South China Sea, strikes west-northwest towards the area between Guangdong and Hainan Island.

Yagi is anticipated to move inside 300 kilometres south of Macau tomorrow bringing strengthening winds and frequent thunderstorms.

As a result of storm’s in depth circulation, the Tropical Cyclone Sign No 8 could also be issued on tonight, a authorities assertion mentioned.

Hong Kong can also be anticipated to lift No 8 alert this night.

Along with the storm warning, low-lying areas in Macau’s inside harbour might expertise minor flooding of as much as 0.5 meters, it mentioned, elevating the potential for a Blue or Yellow Storm Surge Warning, relying on Yagi’s actual path and depth.