Hong Kong is set for a stormy weekend with Tropical Cyclone Noul expected to make landfall between southern China’s Huizhou and Jieyang early on Sunday.

The Observatory raised the T1 standby signal at 8:40pm on Friday, with the cyclone moving west-northwest across the Luzon Strait.

“Tropical Cyclone Noul will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong around this evening… The weather will still be very hot over Hong Kong during the day tomorrow (25 July). However, there will be swells,” the Observatory said on Friday.

The weather service said there were “still uncertainties [over] its distance from Hong Kong,” but it predicted heavy squally showers and thunderstorms on Sunday for the city.

Typhoon Signal 1

The No.1 signal is the “Standby” signal. It is issued when a tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may affect the territory.

• All schools and government services remain open.
• All public transport remains in service.
• The government advice is to take the tropical cyclone into account when planning activities and be wary of potential strong winds over offshore waters.

Observatory signals currently in force

• Very Hot Weather Warning was issued at 11:45 HKT (22 Jul 2026)

Climate crisis

Tropical cyclones – which get their energy from warm ocean water – are strengthening and become ever more destructive because of warming seas. Over 90 per cent of excess heat in the atmosphere is ending up in oceans, according to NASA, as rising greenhouse gases prevent it from escaping to space.