Yagi unlikely to weaken in hours ahead: meteorologist
A meteorological expert on Thursday said Super Typhoon Yagi is unlikely to weaken as it gets closer to Hong Kong and it could get even stronger. Maximum wind speeds at the centre of the storm have already reached more than 200km per hour. "This is because the water in the South China Sea is abnormally warm, which favours the super typhoon continuing to develop," said Leung Wing-mo from the Hong Kong Meteorological Society. "Also other climate conditions, such as high-level wind shear, all point to Yagi maintaining its force and remaining as a super typhoon." However, Leung told an RTHK programme that Yagi does not pose as big a threat to the SAR as Super Typhoon Mangkhut did back in 2018. The former assistant director of the observatory said winds will change from northerly to easterly by Friday morning and will be particularly strong in places including Sai Kung, Tai Po, Heng Fa Chuen and Lei Yue Mun. The observatory says Yagi is expected to skirt around 300 kilometres to the southwest of Hong Kong on Thursday night and Friday morning, and a typhoon signal 8 could be issued between 4pm and 7pm Thursday.