Hong Kong Lowers Storm Alert as Typhoon Wipha Passes

HONG KONG — On July 20, 2025, the Hong Kong Observatory announced the downgrading of its storm alert from the highest level due to the tropical cyclone Wipha moving westward past the city. The alert was lowered to signal No. 8 at 4:10 PM local time, allowing Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. to resume some flight operations later that day.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, Typhoon Wipha was moving at approximately 22 kilometers per hour (13.7 miles per hour) across the Pearl River Estuary and was projected to make landfall in the coastal areas of Guangdong province, China, later that evening. The local weather bureau indicated that cities such as Zhuhai and Zhanjiang would likely be affected by the storm's direct impact.

As of Saturday evening, nearly 280,000 residents in Guangdong had been evacuated due to the approaching typhoon, as reported by the state media. Cathay Pacific announced that it would begin resuming departing flights at approximately 6 PM, following significant delays and cancellations earlier in the day. The airline cautioned that additional disruptions could occur depending on weather developments.

The Airport Authority of Hong Kong activated its emergency center and warned that operations at the airport would still be impacted by the typhoon's remnants. The Education Bureau also announced the suspension of all special classes and events for the day.

In a related incident in neighboring Macau, the meteorological bureau planned to lower its alert signal at 5 PM, with major hotels remaining operational despite the storm.

Tragically, Wipha caused severe weather conditions in Vietnam, leading to the capsizing of a boat in Halong Bay, which resulted in the deaths of 38 individuals, as reported by the Vietnamese government. The storm was anticipated to strike Vietnam's northern provinces, leading to the cancellation and rerouting of numerous flights.

In the Philippines, heavy rainfall was forecasted, with predictions of up to 200 millimeters (7.87 inches) affecting the main island of Luzon. The government reported three fatalities and three missing persons attributed to the storm, affecting over 370,000 individuals.

Historically, Hong Kong last raised its alert to signal No. 10 in September 2023 during Typhoon Saola, which brought extensive flooding to the region. The city’s stock exchange ended its long-standing practice of closing during storms classified as signal No. 8 or above in 2024, a move that was particularly scrutinized during the pandemic as remote work had minimal impact on trading.

The implications of Typhoon Wipha extend beyond immediate weather disruptions, highlighting the growing unpredictability of tropical cyclones in the region amid climate change concerns. According to Dr. Emily Tan, a climate scientist at the University of Hong Kong, the increasing intensity and frequency of such storms are expected to pose greater risks to urban areas in the coming years. As climate patterns evolve, both local governments and residents must adapt to protect lives and infrastructure from future storms.