As I write on 13 November 2024, Tropical Cyclone Toraji is set to pass over Hong Kong, with a T8 signal warning of gales, and radar indicating intense rains to come. It’s highly unusual to have a tropical cyclone affect Hong Kong in November, and I’ve had a quick look for information on these. [Below, a little info on Toraji; those rains fizzled as they neared HK.]
November 1900: the Geng-Zi Typhoon Disaster
By far the worst tropical cyclone to impact Hong Kong in November was a typhoon that struck on 10 November 1900. The Hong Kong Observatory noted the approach of a large typhoon, and on 8 November began issuing warnings to the public, with the Number 9 signal hoisted during the height of the storm [there was as yet no Number 10 signal]. However, “many of them disbelieved that such a violent storm would affect the territory in this season”; and with peak hourly wind speeds recorded at 113 km/hr – similar to several more renowned/infamous typhoons, there was considerable damage along with loss of life. An article on the Hong Kong Observatory website reports:
The “Geng-Zi” Typhoon caused extensive damages and heavy casualties to the territory. Numerous sampans and boats were sunk or even smashed to matchwood by the raging waves. Ten steam-launches and over 110 junks were also sunk and the harbour was full of wreckage. The gunboat H.M.S Sandpiper sank at her mooring and her crews, with one exception, were gallantly rescued by the torpedo-destroyer H.S.M. Otter. The large dredger “Canton River” was blown over and sunk. The Star Ferry pier was also heavily damaged. Over land, there were many reports of damages to houses, especially in the Peak District. All matsheds erected on the reclamation land over Yaumati were leveled to ground by the high winds. Many trees were damaged or uprooted. Lamp posts and telephone posts were bent at all angles by the furious winds. Over 200 lives were lost in these few fatal hours.
The “Geng-Zi” typhoon disaster in 1900
Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones bringing gales from 1900 to 2022
As the article on the Geng-Zi typhoon notes, the next typhoon to bring gales in November was in 1915. On 23 November 1939, a tropical cyclone that was no longer a typhoon was unusual for passing over Hong Kong from the west-southwest, bringing southeasterly gales and; after a 15-minute lull when the eye moved across Hong Kong, northwesterlies: as reported in Some Notes on the Structure of Hong Kong Typhoons.
Subsequently, according to the Geng-Zi typhoon article: “After World War II, there were two typhoons which necessitated the hoisting of Signal No. 8 or higher in November, namely the typhoons in 1954 (Signal No. 9) and 1972 (Signal No. 8). Coincidently, both of them were named Pamela.”
The next such storm was Nalgae, in 2022; though before this, the remnants of Typhoon Ira were notable for bringing intense rainstorms.
November 1993: Typhoon Ira causes rainstorms and landslides
Ira was a typhoon as it hit Luzon, weakened to a tropical depression, then strengthened somewhat over the South China Sea, and headed around northwest, passing within 250km of Hong Kong on 4 November, when the T3 signal was raised.
Ira had notable impacts:
In Hong Kong, an aircraft with 296 passengers on board skidded off the Kai Tak airport runway and plunged into the harbour at 11.37 a.m. on 4 November. Fortunately, most of the passengers escaped unscathed, but 23 needing treatment in hospitals for minor injuries. The airport had to be closed for more than six hours, affecting some 200 flights.
During the passage of Ira, a sampan capsized over the waters between Lamma Island and Green Island. In Tsuen Wan and Shau Kei Wan, several vehicles were damaged by collapsed scaffoldings. Ferry services from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui East, and Central to some outlying islands were suspended.
Thunderstorms and heavy showers associated with the remnant of Ira affected Hong Kong early on the morning of 5 November. Rain was particularly heavy in the western part of the territory. A total of over 700 millimetres was recorded in Tung Chung on 4 and 5 November. Altogether, about 80 flooding incidents and 125 cases of landslides were reported in the territory. An elderly man in Yuen Long and a taxi driver in Lantau were killed. Seven people were injured and over 100 were stranded by floods. About 40 village houses in Yuen Long and 90 hectares of agricultural land, mostly in Kam Tin and Pat Heung, were inundated. A total of around 2.7 hectares of fish ponds was devastated with losses estimated at HK$75 000. Flooding in Lantau Island caused damage to many roads. Two pipelines were broken by landslides at Mui Wo, interrupting water supplies to Cheung Chau and Chi Ma Wan. [I live on Cheung Chau, remember having to head to a standpipe to fill a bucket with water; it took a few days to fully restore water supplies. Also remember setting off on a ferry during an utter deluge; arriving in Victoria Harbour where the weather was simply overcast]. The flood waters also inundated the main water pumping station in Tuen Mun, leaving around 430 000 residents in the area without fresh water supplies for several days.
Tropical cyclones in 1993
November 2022: Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae
Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae passed closest to Hong Kong on 3 November 2022; by then, it was already weakening, though the T8 signal was issued, as recorded in a lengthy report that included:
Meteorological data revealed that while Nalgae appeared to be rather weak from the meteorological satellite image under the cool sea surface water and the cool and dry northeast monsoon, it still maintained considerable intensity near the lower-boundary layer and managed to bring gale to storm force 10 min mean winds over many places in Hong Kong, necessitating the issuance of a gale or storm wind signal in November since 1972.
A Rare Tropical Cyclone Necessitating the Issuance of Gale or Storm Wind Warning Signal in Hong Kong in Late Autumn in 2022-Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae
November 2024: Tropical Storm Toraji
Toraji was a typhoon as it hit Luzon, but weakened. Once over the South China Sea, it headed towards Hong Kong, retaining some strength as a tropical storm – resulting in T8 signal being issued [as I update on morning of 14 November, T8 about to be “lowered”].
While there were gales at times over hills and some places in the south, especially Waglan, it wasn’t impactful in Hong Kong.
And with the T3 signal in effect, winds mostly force 5 or less across HK, I see this on Twitter. Yet another example of a local TV reporter way over dressed for the actual conditions, as you can tell from people behind her!:
November 2024: former Super Typhoon Man-yi
Soon after Toraji, Super Typhoon Man-yi hit Luzon – the fourth typhoon in 11 days to hit the island. It weakened, entered the South China Sea and, like Toraji, headed for waters south of Hong Kong, where it weakened under the effects of the northeast monsoon.
Though it was around 400km when nearest Hong Kong around 18th and 19 November, Man-yi did cause a minor storm surge, which combined with astronomically high tides [soon after full moon] to result in some coastal flooding. Some photos showed water overlapping waterfronts in places like Tuen Mun, and there was reportedly an extensive surge along the South China coast:
Unlike with Toraji, the weather turned much cooler during the passage of Man-yi – presumably as the air was from the north rather than from the storm. It was also rainy; though persistent rather light rain, not intense “tropical” downpours.