120 flights cancelled as Typhoon Nida heads for Hong Kong, China
Typhoon Nisa, the strongest storm Hong Kong is expecting to see this year is headed for mainland China. Image via @Wunderground
HONG KONG is bracing for Typhoon Nida, cancelling at least 124 flights scheduled for Monday and Tuesday as the biggest storm it faces this year loomed close to the city on Monday afternoon, local media reported.
According to The South China Morning Post, the Hong Kong Observatory raised the typhoon warning signal to No 8 between 6pm and 10pm local time, from the No 3 signal issued during the afternoon.
The observatory predicts sustained wind speeds of 63 to 117 km/h and gusts that exceed 180 km/h.
At least 42 departure flights were called off on Monday and another 35 were tipped to be suspended on Tuesday, according to Airport Authority Flight Information. Forty-seven flights due to arrive today were also cancelled.
Accuweather.com reported that the typhoon would take aim at China early this week after unloading flooding rain across the Philippines, where it is known as Carina, over the weekend.
Residents of southern China were also warned to prepare for impact from the storm during the early and middle part of the week.
Nida is expected to gain additional strength as it churns across the South China Sea early this week. The storm could become as strong as a Category 2 hurricane before it makes landfall.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said rain and winds will increase in intensity before the storm moves onshore Monday night.
“Southern and central Guangdong and much of Guangxi will have the highest impacts from this storm,” he was quoted as saying.
Douty said heavy rainfall will lead to flooding and life-threatening mudslides in the southern coast of China and is expected to see some 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) of rain in Guangdong to Guangxi.
Shipping interests in the South China Sea were also expected to be affected ahead of the storm and swimmers were warned about rough surf and increased rip currents along the coasts.
“Once inland, Nida should rapidly weaken, which will reduce the wind threat,” Douty said. “[However], the heavy rain threat could extend into Guizhou and eastern Yunnan from Wednesday into Thursday.”
