Hong Kong hoists highest rain signal, closes schools

Hong Kong's observatory raised its highest black rain signal, prompting school closures and shelter warnings, as heavy rain and strong gusts continue to affect the financial hub.

Hong Kong's observatory raised ​its highest black rain ​signal on Thursday at ‌12:55 p.m. local ​time (0455 GMT), prompting schools to close and some businesses to halt, as it asked ‌residents to take shelter and be on guard for severe flooding. Heavy rain exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour is likely to continue, the observatory ‌said on its website. It is the second time the black ‌warning signal has been hoisted this year; the first occurred more than a week ago on June 8.

The financial hub, along with much of southern China, ⁠has been ​soaked for several ⁠days now due to an active southwest monsoon and a lingering trough of ⁠low pressure. Intense gusts may continue to affect Hong Kong, with wind strength of ​around 80 km (50 miles) per hour recorded in the city's southwestern ⁠district of Tai O, the observatory said.

It comes ahead of the Dragon ⁠Boat ​Festival on Friday, which gives residents a three-day weekend, when many are expected to travel. Authorities across the border in Shenzhen, mainland China, hoisted ⁠the red rain signal and urged residents to stay away from low-lying, ⁠waterlogged and ⁠what it called "other dangerous areas."

There was an increased risk of mountain floods, landslides and other disasters, they said.