Storm Pabuk edged into southern China yesterday, bringing strong
winds and rain that shut Hong Kong's stock market and schools as it
skirted the special administrative region.
Meanwhile, Tropical storm Wutip headed into Fujian Province,
generating a weather system that should give Shanghai cooler
weather over the weekend.
Pabuk, named after a large freshwater fish in Laos, earlier
crossed the strait between Taiwan and the Philippines.
It triggered landslides that killed 11 people in the Philippines
and disrupted power supplies in southern Taiwan.
The storm then headed west to Hong Kong, passing the city before
changing direction sharply to head northeast toward the Chinese
mainland.
No casualties or damage were immediately reported, but the Hong
Kong Observatory issued a high-level storm warning yesterday as
winds gusted up to 111 kilometers per hour.
The government ordered schools closed, and the local stock
market stopped trading just 15 minutes into the afternoon
session.
Residents left work early, resulting in long lines for public
transportation.
The storm also spoiled the plans of soccer fans gearing up for
an exhibition match between Barcelona and a local team. The match
was rescheduled for today.
Last night, the city's Home Affairs Department opened 26
temporary shelters.
The eighth tropical storm of this year, Wutip, which means
butterfly in Cantonese, hit Fujian Province in east China late
yesterday with winds up to 72 kilometers per hour.
Though the storm will not strike Shanghai directly, clouds from
its perimeter will shroud local skies.
The mercury may drop to 29 degrees during the day this weekend,
the city weather bureau said.
Shanghai is entering the late stage of this year's flood season,
which means the potential for more rain and typhoons.
At least two tropical storms were forecast to influence the
weather in Shanghai later this month, said meteorologist Dong
Rong.
The weather bureau has forecast a drier August this year, with
about 10 rainy days, two less than usual.
(Shanghai Daily August 12, 2007)
