Typhoon Mangkhut heads towards Hong Kong

Short film I’ve made on Super Typhoon Mangkhut rampaging across Cheung Chau, southwest Hong Kong:

Update (after passage of the storm), 29 September:

Mangkhut rampaged across Hong Kong, with powerful winds blasting down trees, blowing windows out of buildings [a few highrises losing many windows], but the main impact was storm surge, especially at coastal places in southeast HK, and east facing coasts across south of HK. I was asked how it compared to Hagupit in 2008, which brought a considerable storm surge to sw Hong Kong including Cheung Chau – where I live; my reply:

Been here since 1987!

By far the worst typhoon I’ve known here; even the astonishing number of trees down and with branches broken testifies to that [goes beyond wind speed measurements]

– also things like those concrete blocks thrown by surge waves, from the road to helipad. Chunks of path, fencing, just gone in some places; sizeable rocks from the shore thrown up onto coastal path, right through where there was metal fencing.

As I remember with Hagupit, it was windy but not too bad for wind – gales/storm force would be my memory; just the next day saw the surge had affected south coast of Cheung Chau, a small stretch of concrete path broken. East coast maybe just sand thrown up higher than normal, not very damaging. Saw more damage at beaches along south coast of Lantau. So seemed fairly localised.

Hato a bit similar, though wind more intense.

My impression with surge here on Cheung Chau: during easterlies, it was far worse than anything in past decades; surely to Wanda [1962] or even before.

But by the time the winds were to south, tide going out a little, winds not quite so crazy, so on south coast things weren’t so bad for surge – lucky for south Lantau, I thought; I’d seen a shot of water reaching the road at Ham Tin, Pui O, and suggested a friend living there be ready to move things upstairs. [had seen photos/video by then, as not far away – Sai Kung, Deepwater Bay – the surge from south was much worse than here]

But with Hato, York, other storms – “just” a few trees down, here and there.

With Mangkhut, well not sure anyone will have a real count of trees that have blocked paths, had to be cut away with chainsaws etc; the great piles of branches, tree trunks along paths – took some community effort to shift several piles, clearing paths/roads more, but there’s still a lot left. That’s nothing like past storms I’ve known; more than a quantum leap… Has occurred to me since, looking at table of wind comparisons between typhoons, that somehow the wind speed numbers miss this: the onslaught of winds, causing so much damage. [a lot of energy from Super Typhoon remaining, but the winds rather more spread out, a little slower at the remains of the eye ????]

A beach path just wrecked; with Hato, a small part was broken, this time “protected” with sandbags that were washed away by soon after 3am…

A couple of friends walked by our place during the T10 with Hato; wouldn’t have done so with this.

I knew birding friends wanted to visit Cape D’Aguilar, s HK Island; been before in storms including Hato, but this time decided conditions were too extreme.

I was at Aberdeen Boat Club’s Middle Island clubhouse on Friday last week; saw the effects of surge that must have been around 4 metres there; done story for the Club magazine, on the damage as – I think – surge swept through like a river in flood, maybe without big waves as some things on the bar like wine glasses were still in place, right next to where water carried fridge weighing 250kg and other items, bashing some through walls.

Even in typhoon shelter [Aberdeen], surge also to maybe 4m, but the shelter did work, and sheltered from winds with easterly component, so not much damage.

Update, 2am, 16 September:

Mangkhut rainbands now nearing Hong Kong, visible on radar – light rain first, heavier soon; winds just starting to pick up after a calm evening. Number 8 strong wind signal issued by Hong Kong Observatory.

Observatory info:

Update, 5pm, 15 September:

 

Can expect eyewall winds; maybe down to Category 2 on hurricane scale, inc according to JTWC; but HK Obs still 195kmhr closest to Hong Kong – still “super typhoon”

Rain just appearing on HK Obs radar

Update, 6.30am, 15 September:

Super Typhoon Mangkhut – headed for near Hong Kong [maybe landfall not far west of Macau]; strong to hurricane force winds expected tomorrow, also chance of severe storm surge [computer model forecasts, from ECMWF, for 10am]

May well be most severe storm on record for Hong Kong. Satellite image; just crossing north tip of Luzon.

ECMWF forecast, for tomorrow, 10am:

HK Observatory http/my.weather.gov.hk/:

“Mangkhut is moving across the northern part of Luzon briefly. Under the influence of the terrain of Luzon, there may be some slight changes in the intensity and movement of Mangkhut.

First, quoting HK Observatory:

 

As Super Typhoon Mangkhut has an extensive circulation and took a more northwestward track with higher speeds, the threat to the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta is increasing. The Observatory will consider issuing the Standby Signal, No. 1 tonight. Members of the public should complete all precautionary measures as soon as possible.

Issued at 18:45 HKT 14/Sep/2018

 

Notes I’ve just posted on Facebook:

Today, Super Typhoon Mangkhut – “Extremely Catastrophic Super Typhoon Mangkhut” as Philippines weather service called it – has taken rather more northerly track than expected.

Update, 8am on 14 September:

Super Typhoon Mangkhut is still a monster storm – Hurricane Florence is a bit puny by comparison. Just seen sustained winds to around 250km/hr; found that T Jebi winds around 167km/hr as it battered Kansai Airport area. Lots of rain; even for coast without normal storm surge risk, could be issue, and Luzon looks set for a pounding.

Noticed the eye is just north of the forecast track in image here; see if anything “in” this, as only slight north shift would mean closer to Hong Kong.

European and GFS models similar positions for Sunday, here at noon; GFS significantly higher pressure = less intense. HK Obs still with v strong winds, maybe to around 200km/hr as it passes HK

HK Observatory model here too; shows projected rainfall, 2pm Sunday]; Obs gets extra data for S China area that’s not in global models.

So for HK, still seem set to miss the craziest, eyewall winds and rain, and storm surge.

But still winds gale force, and perhaps/probably higher [surely higher in exposed southern places]. Storm surge too; seen a model with 1m projected [via GDACS], but I think on low side after T Hagupit led to strong surge tho 200km away. Offset by tide being low most of Sunday daytime, as Mangkhut set to pass us.

Update, 4pm on 13 September:

Forecast tracks for Mangkhut have changed considerably: early, before typhoon formed, seemed maybe headed to east China; then towards Taiwan. For a while, seemed set to pass through Luzon Strait towards Hong Kong. But now, more southerly, to pass over north Luzon, and then towards Hong Kong but curving northwest to maybe pass north of Hainan and to north Vietnam. As in this forecast track from HK Observatory.

Though it may pass over 100km south of Hong Kong, will be windy here [gales, maybe some hurricane force]; but also chance of storm surge – rather as Typhoon Hagupit passed 200km to south yet caused storm surge. Against which, tide will be low as the typhoon is forecast to be closest.

Meanwhile – the storm itself; now the strongest storm on earth this year, see if it intensifies more to enter record books as one of strongest on record anywhere [already close to being more intense than any Atlantic hurricanes]. A “perfect” storm in satellite image from this morning:

Over on twitter, somewhat muted re #Mangkhut, especially with Hurricane Florence headed for the southeast US. But some are taking note, for instance:

World Meteorological Organization; maybe not given to hyperbole:

Update, 6pm on 12 September:

Now looks as if the storm may lose quite some power from current super typhoon status, perhaps pass over north tip of Luzon rather than miss it, and landfall southwest of Hong Kong.

This from ECMWF; a change from some consistency with Hong Kong as landfall, or very very close.

Still set for strong winds, likelihood of storm surge [maybe not very damaging].

Here’s a satellite image; almost last light of the day, with the huge eye [26 nautical miles, around 45km, says JTWC].

Update, 6pm on 11 September:

Though it’s early days yet to be confident regarding landfall, it’s “interesting” to see the forecasts for Typhoon Mangkhut (Mangosteen) – which looks set to soon become a super typhoon, and may then head towards the Luzon Strait, perhaps passing through and coming close to Hong Kong.

Here are “spaghetti” tracks from the European, ECMWF model. In fair agreement with other models just now.

And here, also from ECMWF, forecast for night of 16 September 2018.