Kompasu Gains Strength, Signal 8 To Stay Before Noon

The Observatory said Severe Tropical Storm Kompasu has intensified into a typhoon, and the number eight storm signal will remain in force before noon on Wednesday.

Officials issued the signal at 5:20pm on Tuesday, and the SAR has been lashed by strong winds and moderate rain since then.

At 6 am, Kompasu was centred about 360 kilometres south of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west towards the vicinity of Hainan Island.

"The rainbands associated with Kompasu continue to affect the coast of Guangdong. Gales are prevailing over parts of the territory, with occasional storm force winds on high ground,"said acting senior scientific officer Yeung Kwok-chung.

"As local winds will turn to the east gradually in the morning, places which have been sheltered before will become more exposed to the high winds. The Gale or Storm Signal, No. 8 will remain in force before noon,"he said.

The Observatory urged members of the public to stay away from the shoreline, warning that seas will be rough with swells.

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