Super Typhoon Ragasa: Hong Kong braces as record wind speeds of 220km/h forecast
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50 per cent off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong authorities are bracing for “serious threats” posed by the looming Super Typhoon Ragasa, which…
Hong Kong authorities are bracing for “serious threats” posed by the looming Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is expected to bring hurricane-force winds of up to 220km/h (137mph) in coming days, potentially breaking a record set during Saola in 2023.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has cancelled Wednesday’s horse racing meeting because of the looming storm. It also called off the last two races at Sha Tin on Sunday because of deteriorating track conditions as a result of downpours from the remnants of Tropical Storm Mitag, which triggered a more than eight-hour amber rainstorm warning before it was cancelled at 5.30pm.
The forecaster warned that Ragasa – named after a Filipino word meaning rapid or fast motion – would move towards the vicinity of the Luzon Strait and continue to intensify over the next two days before edging closer to the coast of Guangdong on Tuesday.
“Ragasa has extensive circulation,” it said. “Gale to storm-force winds will prevail on Wednesday, and winds may reach hurricane force offshore and on high ground.”
