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Hong Kong typhoon season is here, with Typhoon Noul forecast to hit the city this weekend. Brush up on your typhoon prep to-do list and what T1, T3, T8 and other signals mean; also explore our indoor activity ideas to keep boredom at bay while you’re hunkered down at home.
If you grew up in the 852 — like many members of our team! — you’ll know a Hong Kong typhoon is just regular routine! But it can be nerve-wracking if you’re new to the city or living alone for the first time. Here’s a handy guide to explain the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO)’s warning signals, how you should prepare your home for a typhoon and where to get help and up-to-date information during a typhoon or rainstorm.
Jump To:
What Exactly Is A Typhoon?
Hong Kong’s Typhoon Warning Signals Explained
Rainstorm Warning Signals Decoded
Typhoon Prep To-do List
Indoor Activity Ideas During Typhoon
Where To Get Info & Help During Hong Kong Typhoons
Read More: Things To Do Indoors When It’s Raining In Hong Kong
What Exactly Is A Typhoon?
To get really specific, a typhoon is a tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere (North America, the northern part of South America, Europe, the northern two-thirds of Africa and most of Asia). A mature tropical cyclone in the northeast Pacific and northern Atlantic is called a hurricane (the main difference between a hurricane and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs).
Typhoon forecast and warning centres are found in places like Japan, Hawaii, the Philippines and Hong Kong — about 18 countries have territories threatened by typhoons each year!
In Hong Kong, typhoon season starts in April and lasts until November, although they’re most likely to hit between July and September. Expect strong winds and heavy rain, which can cause flash flooding, landslides and damage to property. There’s typically a few days’ warning that a storm is coming (so you’ll have time to prepare), and Hong Kong is very well-equipped to handle these storms.
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Hong Kong’s Typhoon Warning Signals Explained
The HKO’s MyObservatory app (on Apple or Android) offers all the information you’ll need to stay informed — and during a typhoon, it should be your go-to for tracking advice. Beyond its daily forecasts, the app will provide typhoon warnings, starting at T1 and accelerating to T3, T8, T9 and T10.
Unlike hurricanes and cyclones, which are categorised by storm intensity, Hong Kong typhoon warning signals depend on the storm’s proximity and effect on the territory. Here’s a breakdown of what each signal means:
| Signal | What It Means |
|---|---|
| T1 | Don’t worry too much when you see T1 or Typhoon Warning Signal One — it just means there’s a typhoon within 800km of Hong Kong. It might come towards the city, or might miss it completely. |
| T3 | Typhoon Warning Signal Three means storm is getting closer. Expect winds of 41–62 km/h.
|
| T8 | Typhoon Warning Signal Eight means things are getting serious — the city begins to shut down.
💡 Tip: The Observatory usually issues a pre-No.8 special announcement when T8 is expected within two hours — use this window to finalise transport, grab last-minute supplies, and get somewhere safe. |
| T9 & T10 | The most severe (and rare) signals — T10 has only been raised 19 times since 1946.
⚠️ Stay indoors and away from exposed windows and doors. |
Rainstorm Warning Signals Decoded
The general rainy season in Hong Kong is normally between April and September, and it can be particularly heavy and persistent during May and June.
HKO’s rainstorm warning system is designed to let you know about heavy rain and is independent of other severe weather warnings like tropical cyclones and landslips (issued separately when necessary!). There are three levels of warning:
| Signal | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Amber Rainstorm Signal |
An amber signal means there’s potential heavy rain that may develop into red or black rainstorms. You may see flooding in some low-lying and poorly drained areas. |
| Red Rainstorm Signal |
Rain is now heavy and could bring about serious road flooding and traffic congestion. If you have to travel, take precautions! If this signal is issued before work, you can go in as usual provided that transport services are available. |
| Black Rainstorm Signal |
Very heavy rain has fallen, exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour! Stop work, stay indoors and take shelter. Try to not go into work and if you’re already there, stay put. |
Read More: Wellness Tips To Stay Cool In Hong Kong Summer
How To Prepare Your Home For A Typhoon
The level of preparation you need to do before a typhoon will largely depend on where you live. There’s going to be a lot more to do for those living in village houses in the New Territories, on Outlying Islands and those living on boats in Hong Kong but even those in the city should do a check of their supplies.
- Bring outdoor furniture inside or tie it down securely. We can’t tell you the number of flying outdoor cushions and even furniture we saw flying through Mid-Levels during Typhoon Mangkhut and Ragasa!
- Stock up on long-life food and water. You won’t have your usual fallback of home delivery services, so make sure you have 24 hours’ worth of food for the family (including your furry friends) — but please don’t panic buy a month’s supply of toilet paper rolls!
- Charge important electrical items like phones and laptops (as well as power banks as backup!). Your apartment may have never lost power or internet but you can’t be certain and you don’t want to waste your battery scrolling through social media.
- Prepare an emergency bag or box with flashlights (check the batteries!), a hard copy of emergency phone numbers (including family and friends) in case your phone dies, as well as some first aid supplies.
- Boat owners should ensure vessels are appropriately moored and seek shelter on land.
Read More: Our Go-To Handyman & Home Repair Services In Hong Kong
Riding Out The Storm
Once the T8 signal is raised and you’re safe at home, there’s not much to do but hang around and ride out the storm. Here are some ideas to make the most of your unexpected time off.
Get that decluttering done
Between work and everyday life, we hardly ever find time to sort through our closets and drawers — a typhoon day is the perfect excuse. Go through your wardrobe and separate clothes you no longer wear into piles: keep, donate and toss. Bag up anything in good condition for donation and drop it off once the signal drops. It’s a productive way to turn a stressful weather day into a satisfying one.
Get moving indoors
Just because the gym is closed doesn’t mean you have to skip exercise altogether. Roll out a yoga mat and follow an online workout, try some bodyweight exercises like squats or push-ups, or put on some music for a mini dance session. It’s a great way to burn off restless energy while staying safe indoors.
Treat yourself with some online shopping
With nowhere to go, it’s a great time to browse online — and a good chance to support Hong Kong’s local brands and small businesses, which might rely on online sales when bad weather keeps shoppers away. Whether it’s local fashion or handmade skincare designed right here in the city, you’ll be treating yourself while giving back to the local economy.
And when you’ve ticked off all of the above, there’s always a good book, a podcast marathon or simply catching up on sleep, because riding out a typhoon should feel like a guilt-free pause button on life.
The most important thing: DO NOT GO OUTSIDE! Even if it looks calm outside, winds can come out of nowhere. Don’t risk it and stay put until the warning signals are lowered.
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Where To Get Information And Help During Hong Kong Typhoons
During a strong typhoon, your social media and WhatsApp will be flooded with updates — but the Hong Kong Observatory remains your most reliable source. Access it via its website, mobile app or Dial-a-Weather system hotline (information will also be broadcast on radio and TV).
Here is a handy list of Hong Kong emergency phone numbers:
- Emergency Services — Police, fire or ambulance. 999
- Government Hotline — To report fallen trees, road conditions, landslides and building conditions. 1823
- Hong Kong Observatory — For the latest weather warnings and updates. 1878 200
- Drainage Services — To report flooding. 2300 1110
- Home Affairs Department — Can assist with emergency accommodation and enquiries. 2835 2500
- SPCA — For animals in danger. 2711 1000
- St John Ambulance — 24-hour ambulance service to private hospitals. 1878 000
- Education Bureau — School closure information. 2891 0088
You might be surprised at how quickly the city returns to normal after a typhoon. Roads are cleared of debris ASAP so that public transport can get up and running and businesses start to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so (often not long after the signals are lowered).
Editor’s Note: “Hong Kong Typhoons: Your Ultimate Guide To Signals, Rain Warnings & More” was originally published on our sister site Sassy Mama Hong Kong by Jess Mizzi and updated for Sassy Hong Kong in July 2026 by Team Sassy.
Main image courtesy of Clarence Chan via Pexels, image 1 courtesy of EOSDIS Worldview via Wikimedia Commons, image 2 courtesy of CHUNYIP WONG via Getty, image 3 courtesy of K8 via Unsplash, image 4 courtesy of Grace Ma for Sassy Media Group, image 5 courtesy of RDNE Stock project via Pexels, image 6 courtesy of Sakina Abidi for Sassy Media Group
