Hong Kong downgrades red rainstorm warning to amber after class suspensions

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.The Hong Kong Observatory has downgraded the red rainstorm warning to amber within an hour of issuing it, after the warning prompted the suspension of afternoon classes.The forecaster switched rainstorm signals three times within 90 minutes on Friday, reissuing the amber signal at 1.20pm to replace the red signal put up at 12.15pm, which forced the suspension of afternoon classes. It had issued the first amber signal of the day at 11.50am.“Areas of intense thundery showers are developing and affecting Hong Kong,” it said, urging the public to stay away from watercourses and take necessary precautions, as heavy rain could trigger flash floods in low-lying or poorly drained areas.Rain was particularly heavy in the New Territories, especially in Tai Po and Sai Kung.The Education Bureau said afternoon lessons were cancelled, but schools should remain open and only dismiss students after confirming it was safe to do so. It added that any classes already in progress should continue as normal until the end of the school day.The Home Affairs Department also said its Emergency Co-ordination Centre was in operation and that it would open temporary shelters for people in need of accommodation.Unsettled weather is expected to persist into next week.“A trough of low pressure will linger over the coast of southern China to the northern part of the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea in the next couple of days,” the Observatory said.“There will be showers and squally thunderstorms over the region.”According to the latest nine-day forecast, conditions will be mainly cloudy over the weekend, with periods of heavy showers and a few squally thunderstorms.Further ReadingAs the trough of low pressure moves away from the Guangdong coast, a subtropical ridge will extend over southern mainland China. This will lead to a gradual easing of rain and the onset of very hot weather from early to midweek, with temperatures reaching up to 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday and Thursday.However, another broad trough of low pressure is expected to bring unsettled weather to the central and northern parts of the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea later next week.