Report on Tropical Storm Maliksi (2402)
Tropical Storm Maliksi (2402)
30 May – 1 June 2024
Maliksi was the first tropical cyclone affecting Hong Kong in 2024. The Observatory issued the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal during the passage of Maliksi.
Maliksi formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 650 km south-southwest of Hong Kong on the evening of 30 May and moved generally northwards towards the coast of western Guangdong. Maliksi intensified into a tropical storm and attained its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 65 km/h near its centre the next afternoon. Maliksi made landfall over Yangjiang, Guangdong in the small hours of 1 June. It then moved north-northeastwards into inland Guangdong and weakened gradually. Maliksi finally degenerated into an area of low pressure that evening.
According to press reports, Maliksi brought torrential rain and squalls to Guangzhou, Foshan, Maoming and other places in Guangdong. Part of the shipping services in Guangzhou and Shenzhen were suspended.
The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 5:40 p.m. on 30 May, when Maliksi was about 650 km south-southwest of Hong Kong. Local winds were moderate to fresh east to southeasterlies and occasionally strong on high ground that night and the next day. As Maliksi continued to edge closer to the coast of western Guangdong, the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal was issued at 4:40 p.m. on 31 May when Maliksi was about 330 km southwest of Hong Kong. Local winds strengthened significantly the next day, with strong south to southwesterlies generally prevailing over the territory and occasionally reaching gale force on high ground. Maliksi came closest to Hong Kong at around 2 p.m. on 1 June, skirting past about 200 km west-northwest of the territory. With Maliksi weakening and departing from Hong Kong afterwards, the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal was replaced by the Standby Signal No. 1 at 4:40 p.m. on 1 June. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 5:40 p.m. on 1 June as Maliksi degenerated over inland Guangdong that evening. However, under the influence of the southwesterly airstream associated with the remnant of Maliksi, strong winds were still affecting parts of the territory. The Strong Monsoon Signal was issued thereafter and lasted till 6:00 a.m. the next day.
Under the influence of Maliksi, a maximum sea level (above chart datum) of 2.41 m was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui and a maximum storm surge (above astronomical tide) of 0.51 m was recorded at Tai Po Kau. At the Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1005.1 hPa was recorded at 5:40 p.m. on 30 May.
The weather was mainly cloudy with a few showers on 30 May. With Maliksi edging closer to the coast of western Guangdong, the weather in Hong Kong deteriorated gradually later the next day. The outer rainbands of Maliksi brought heavy squally showers to Hong Kong on 31 May – 1 June. More than 40 millimetres of rainfall were generally recorded over the territory and rainfall even exceeded 100 millimetres over parts of the New Territories.
During the passage of Maliksi, a female pedestrian was hit by a fallen tree in Ma On Shan and she was sent to hospital for treatment. A broken branch blocked the only lane of Cotton Tree Drive slip road towards Central.