Macau expected to raise signal 8 for tropical storm Higos

The civil protection structure and the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) have issued warnings to the population to prepare for the passage of the tropical storm Higos.

The warnings come shortly after the SMG indicated that typhoon signal 8 “will be issued between 10 p.m. on August 18 and 2 a.m. of August 19.

According to the latest SMG report, the typhoon route has changed “to a more northerly path in the last few hours, together with the possibility that it may further intensify,” the Bureau said while warning people of the danger of “more significant flooding” than what was initially expected. The SMG also advanced that will raise the storm surge warning level from yellow to orange effective at 8:30 p.m.

It is forecast that there will be severe flooding in low-lying areas between 5 a.m. and noon tomorrow (August 19), with the highest flooding level expected to be between 1 and 1.5 meters.

At the same time, the Civil protections added that since the wind speed is expected to intensify, it urges citizens and tourists to take all precautionary measures, like cleaning water drainage systems and verifying if the doors, windows, and objects on balconies are secured.

Civil protection also advises drivers to pay special attention to driving safety and to beware of strong winds with gusts.

Due to the expectation that typhoon signal 8 will be raised tonight, Macau Daily Times will not publish the newspaper tomorrow (Wednesday, August 19). However the MDT website will be updated with breaking news during the recess period.

RM