The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) said on its website last night that there was a “medium” probability for the Strong Wind Signal No.3 to be hoisted today.
However, the website said that the Standby Signal No.1, which was hoisted at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, was expected to remain in force this morning.
At 11:00 p.m. yesterday, according to the SMG website, a tropical depression was about 590 kilometres southwest of Macau. It was forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kilometres per hour towards the nation’s southernmost province of Hainan.
Depending on its location and strength, Macau’s observatory classifies a tropical cyclone into tropical depression, tropical storm, severe tropical storm, typhoon, severe typhoon, and super typhoon.
Signal No.1 is the lowest of Macau’s tropical cyclone warning signals. It is hoisted when a tropical cyclone comes within 800 kilometres from Macau. Its higher warning typhoon signals are the No.3, No.8, No.9, and No.10.
The bureau said last night that the tropical depression over the central-northern part of the South China Sea was expected to gradually intensify and move towards Hainan island.
The website said that the tropical depression’s outer circulation is expected to gradually intensify the level of winds affecting Macau today, when showers are also expected to become more frequent.
Consequently, the website said, the bureau concluded that there was a “medium” probability that it would need to hoist the Strong Wind Signal No.3 today.
