Macau has hoisted the Standby Signal No. 1 as Super Typhoon ‘Ragasa’ approaches.
The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) raised the Standby Signal No. 1 (T1) at 3 p.m. as Super Typhoon “Ragasa” moves towards the city. A T1 signal indicates that a tropical cyclone is centred within 800 km of Macau and may affect the territory.
According to a statement from the observatory this afternoon, Ragasa, which is currently located over the northwest Pacific Ocean, is passing through the Bashi Channel. It is expected to enter the northern part of the South China Sea later today.
“Based on the current forecast track, Ragasa is predicted to move in a west-northwest direction at a relatively fast speed over the coming few days. Due to its broad circulation and the combined influence of a northeast monsoon, winds in Macau are expected to strengthen significantly tomorrow,” the observatory said.
The bureau said that the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 (T3) will be issued between midnight and early tomorrow morning. It also said there is a “high” probability of issuing the higher Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 (T8) between tomorrow afternoon and evening.
The statement added that Ragasa is expected to pass close to the Pearl River Estuary early on Wednesday, noting that the possibility of it moving within 100 kilometres of Macau “cannot be ruled out.”
“Winds may reach Hurricane Force (12 or above) for a sustained period, accompanied by persistent heavy rain, thunderstorms, and storm-force gusts,” the statement warned.
According to the Beaufort scale—an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land—Hurricane Force 12 indicates winds of 118 km/h or above.
The bureau also said that the probability of issuing a Red Storm Surge Warning between tomorrow afternoon and evening was “relatively high.”
According to Macau’s five-level Storm Surge Warning system, a Red Storm Surge Warning (the second-highest level) indicates that the water level is expected to be 1.5 to 2.5 metres above the road level, based on the measurement point in the Inner Harbour area.
Meanwhile, the bureau said in a follow-up statement tonight that it would hoist the Strong Wind No.3 Signal (T3) between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. tomorrow, while there was a "high" probability of issuing the Tropical Cyclone Signal No.8 (T8) between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Macau has a five-level tropical cyclone warning system: T1, T3, T8, T9, and T10.
