(The color of the symbols above will change with the classification of the tropical cyclone)
Low Pressure Area or Extratropical Low
Color
Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Severe Tropical Storm
Typhoon
Severe Typhoon
Super Typhoon
Potential Track Area (70% probability)
First 72 hours
72-120 hours
Notes
Tropical cyclones centred within the area bounded by 7-36N and 100-140E (show on map) will be shown on this website. According to the analysed position of the tropical cyclone and the tropical cyclone warning signal in force, the update time of this webpage will be different. Details are listed in the table below:
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No.1 or above in force
No Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal in force
Tropical cyclones centred within the area bounded by 10N and 30N, 105E and 125E.*
Other tropical cyclones centred within the area bounded by 7N and 36N,100E and 140E.
*The tropical cyclone track, analysed positions and maximum sustained wind near centre are based on Hong Kong Observatory's tropical cyclone warning for shipping.
Detailed information of the tropical cyclone, including latitude, longitude, classification and the maximum sustained wind near centre will be shown when placing the mouse cursor over the analysed or forecast positions. The user can use the controls on the left of the map to change the area of interest and to zoom into city or even street levels. Please bear in mind the uncertainty of the tropical cyclone locations as described below in using this function.
While the forecast positions and track indicate the most likely future path of the tropical cyclone, they may deviate from the actual path of the storm. By pressing the 'Potential Track Area' button, the probable area within which the tropical cyclone will fall with a probability of 70% will be shown. Literally, it means that among 10 times of track forecast for similar situations, the tropical cyclone will be centred within the indicated area in about 7 times. The area grows as the forecast hour increases. It will be particularly larger beyond 72 hours and is indicated with lighter shadings on the map. The size in terms of radius of the 'Potential Track Area' corresponding to different forecast hours are determined from the error statistics of the forecasts issued in past years (updated in 2022) and are as shown in the following table:
Tropical Cyclone Track
Radius of 'Potential Track Area'
Analysed position*
15 km
24-hour forecast position
100 km
48-hour forecast position
170 km
72-hour forecast position
255 km
96-hour forecast position
345 km
120-hour forecast position
465 km
*Analysed position refers to the positions of tropical cyclones fixed by the Observatory based on observation data available in real time. Such real-time positions could deviate from those obtained later through "Best Track Analysis" when more comprehensive sets of observations become available. The corresponding radius of 'Potential Track Area' is determined from the statistics in the past years as the mean value.
Short-term erratic departure of the tropical cyclone from the general direction of movement may occur from time to time. These departures are partly due to uncertainties in locating the centre of the tropical cyclone, and partly due to actual short-term variations in the direction and speed of movement of the tropical cyclone itself.
The infra-red satellite image closest to the time of tropical cyclone analysed position can be shown by pressing the 'Satellite Image' button, below which is the 'Time of image' representing the time when satellite data is completely received at the ground reception system. Since it takes time to receive and process the satellite data as well as generate the image, the time of image may somtimes be different from the time of tropical cyclone analysed position.
The Hong Kong Observatory's radar images closest to the time of tropical cyclone analysed position can be shown by pressing the 'Radar Image' button, below which is the 'Time of image' representing the time when radar completes its scan. For detailed information, please refer to the Weather Radar Image website.
The background geographical information in this page comes from OpenStreetMap. The use of OpenStreetMap is to aid users in appreciating the geographical location of the areas affected by tropical cyclones. This does not imply that information on the map is endorsed by the Hong Kong Observatory. The use of OpenStreetMap is subject to its License Terms.
The satellite images were originally captured by the Himawari-9 (H9) satellite of Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Anyone wishing to further disseminate these satellite images should seek permission from JMA. (Address: Japan Meteorological Agency, 3-6-9 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo 105-8431, Japan).
If you have any comments on our website, please fill in the suggestion form or send us an e-mail.
