Regional Wind Information

Due to local topography and the built environment, wind condition in different parts of Hong Kong can vary appreciably. A numbered tropical cyclone signal can provide a general warning for the public, but it has an inherent limitation in communicating varying wind speeds at different locations. The public should take note of the regional wind condition and take appropriate response actions.

Currently, the Observatory provides information on regional wind condition on its website (https://www.weather.gov.hk/en/index.html or https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/index.html) and through the Dial-a-Weather service (telephone: 187 8200). It also has special arrangements with individual sectors, such as the marine and aviation sectors, to meet their specific needs. Starting from 2007, the Observatory further enhances the dissemination of regional wind information by highlighting in media broadcast of its tropical cyclone bulletins those areas with wind speeds significantly higher than the general wind condition of Hong Kong. A webpage showing the regional distribution of wind strength was also added to the Observatory website with strong and gale force winds presented in an easily comprehensible graphical form. A description of how winds of different forces manifest themselves on land and over the sea is also available on the webpage (https://www.weather.gov.hk/en/wxinfo/ts/wind_gale.htm).

Considering that aircraft operations at Chek Lap Kok are mainly affected by crosswinds (i.e. winds blowing towards the aircraft from the side) and the associated windshear and turbulence rather than wind speed per se, in situations when the wind conditions likely to cause significant disruptions to air traffic are expected, the Observatory will add an advisory to its tropical cyclone bulletin that the traveling public check with airlines before departing for the airport commencing 2007. The public should listen to the radio or TV broadcasts or browse the Observatory website for information on the tropical cyclone bulletins.