On Tuesday, August 5th, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region were hit by record-breaking heavy rain. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the highest-level “black rainstorm warning” for the fourth time within eight days, setting a new annual record. The torrential rain caused severe flooding in multiple areas, leading to school closures, clinics shutting down, courts and registration offices suspending services, and overall city operations descending into chaos.
By 2 pm on the same day, Hong Kong recorded over 350 millimeters (approximately 13.8 inches) of rainfall, marking the highest single-day rainfall in August since records began in 1884. The average annual rainfall in the city is around 2,200 millimeters, with more than half falling between June and August.
The Observatory announced that the black rainstorm warning would be extended until 5 pm, and while the Hong Kong International Airport remained operational, some flights were delayed. Authorities advised travelers to confirm their flights before heading to the airport. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge connecting the three regions also enforced speed limits due to poor visibility.
Online videos showed torrential rain cascading down hillsides, turning city steps into white rapid streams. Floodwaters outside the largest public hospital in Hong Kong rose to ankle-high levels, prompting the Hospital Authority to close multiple outpatient clinics.
The heavy rain also affected the entire Greater Bay Area encompassing Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. According to China Central Television, as of Tuesday morning, four rivers in Guangdong province had surged to the brink of overflowing. Flash floods triggered by the weekend downpour had resulted in five deaths in Guangdong. Macau issued a “red rainstorm warning,” with a 20% cancellation rate for flights at multiple airports in the region on Tuesday.
Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macau, as core cities of China’s “Greater Bay Area Development Plan,” are currently simultaneously facing the severe challenge brought by climate disasters.
In recent years, extreme rainfall and flooding have become increasingly frequent, posing a growing challenge to mainland China. Meteorological experts pointed out that the persistent abnormal East Asian monsoon had led to concentrated rainfall in the north and south regions. Since early July, both North and South China had experienced weeks of unusually severe weather. On Monday, Inner Mongolia witnessed a rare tornado, while Beijing braced for a new round of flooding.
Despite the raging storms, Hong Kong Disneyland remained open for visitors on that day, standing out as one of the few public facilities unaffected by the weather.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters)