Meaning of Signals
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, also referred to as the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, is a classification used for some Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones. However Hong Kong has a similar five level official definitions of the signals as shown in the table below.
The highest level, No. 10, is rarely issued. As of 24 July 2012, there have been only 13 No. 10 warnings in the last 65 years, and only two in the last 28 years (Typhoon York in 1999, and Typhoon Vicente in 2012).
| Signal Number |
Signal Name |
Sustained Wind Speed (km/h, (mph, Beaufort scale)) |
Gusts (km/h (mph)) |
Signal Sign |
Light Signal (Abolished) |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Stand-by (戒備) |
N/A |
N/A |
White |
A tropical cyclone is centred within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may later affect the territory, or there are strong winds in Hong Kong waters | |
|
3 |
Strong winds (強風) |
41 - 62 (26-37, Beaufort Force 6-7) |
may exceed 110 (69) |
Green |
Strong winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level, and the wind condition is expected to persist | |
|
8 NE |
Gale or storm force winds |
63 - 117 (38-73, Beaufort Force 8-11) |
may exceed 180 (113) |
Green |
Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the NE quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist | |
|
8 NW |
White |
Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the NW quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist | ||||
|
8 SE |
White |
Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the SE quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist | ||||
|
8 SW |
Green |
Gale or storm force winds are expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near the sea level from the SW quadrant, and the wind condition is expected to persist | ||||
|
9 |
Increasing |
88 - 117, increasing (55-73, Beaufort Force 10-11) |
N/A |
Green |
Gale or storm force winds are increasing. | |
|
10 |
Hurricane (颶風) |
>118 (74+, Beaufort Force 12) |
may exceed 220 (138) |
Red |
Hurricane force winds. Eye of typhoon may be passing directly over Hong Kong. |
Read more about this topic: Hong Kong Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
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