Super Typhoon Ragasa is still passing through the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on its way towards Macau and the surrounding areas, already another low-pressure area is developing and is forecast to enter the South China Sea in the coming days, according to various Hong Kong media reports, quoting the Hong Kong Observatory’s (HKO) 9-day Weather Forecast.
According to Dimsum Daily’s report, HKO has “indicated” that a separate broad area of low pressure is developing over the western North Pacific and is expected to develop over the next few days, with the potential to bring further disruptive weather in the surrounding region over the weekend.
This weather system is forecast to also track across the Philippines, where Ragasa – known as Super Typhoon Nando in the Southeast Asian country – has just slammed the northern part, leaving at least one person dead and several injured in a landslide in Benguet.
Dimsum Daily’s report also pointed out HKO’s forecast indicating that showery conditions and a few thunderstorms are likely to persist through Sunday.
Meanwhile, the unsettled weather conditions due to Super Typhoon Ragasa have forced some events in both Macau and Hong Kong to be cancelled, including the Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum 2025, originally scheduled to take place at MGM Cotai from tomorrow through Wednesday.
Macau SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai earlier today ordered full mobilisation of the SAR’s governmental resources – complemented by community effort – to counter possible adverse conditions linked to Ragasa approaching the region.
The Macau Government has called for “community unity on disaster preparedness”, while assuring that the government has fully activated its emergency response mechanism, implementing comprehensive arrangements for before, during and after the typhoon enters Macau’s proximity, including the post-storm recovery, according to Macau’s Government Information Bureau (GCS).
Based on the current forecast, Ragasa is likely to pass within 100 kilometres to the south of Macau on Wednesday morning and it is likely to bring “prolonged” severe weather and storm surges – with flooding comparable to Typhoons Hato (2017) and Mangkhut (2018) – that could reach five metres, exceeding some road levels by approximately two metres.
Nevertheless, the Macau Government remains “confident” in its ability to address threats posed by Ragasa, GCS pointed out in its press release.
Meanwhile, Super Typhoon Ragasa has officially been declared this year’s most powerful storm in the world, according to various media reports.
As the typhoon along with the local winds continue to strengthen, Macau’s Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) has announced that it will replace the current typhoon signal no. 1 with signal no. 3 between 4 am and 6 am tomorrow (23 September).
The weather bureau is advising the public to closely monitor the city’s latest weather updates and take early precautions against wind damage and flooding, as well as prepare essential emergency necessities. For more information about Macau’s weather development visit SMG’s website. (Gilbert Humphrey)
Image: Unsplash/@nasa
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