Progress in Hong Kong’s Tropical Cyclone Forecasting and Warning Services in Recent Decades

Abstract

ABSTRACT With modern infrastructures and effective warning systems, casualties, damages and losses due to tropical cyclones (TCs) have been significantly reduced over the years in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, densely populated coastal cities like Hong Kong will need to continuously enhance its resilience to high winds, heavy rain and storm surges brought by TCs, especially with the growing concern of the challenges induced by climate change and sea level rise. By embracing the advance of remote sensing, communication and numerical modelling technology, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) continues to improve its TC monitoring and forecasting techniques as well as forecasting and warning services to meet the needs of the society. This paper concisely reviews the major development and achievement of TC-related operation and services of HKO in recent decades, in aspects such as Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, nowcasting techniques, warning communication and public education. Future thrusts on TC forecasting and warning services of HKO will also be discussed.