Ominous clouds loom over Hong Kong's skyline as a typhoon approaches.
Hong Kong sits in the path of the western Pacific’s tropical cyclone belt, and every year between May and November, the city faces a real possibility of direct typhoon hits. For expats arriving from countries without tropical storm systems, the experience can be disorienting: offices close mid-afternoon, the MTR shifts to limited service, and supermarket shelves empty in a matter of hours.
The good news is that Hong Kong’s infrastructure is built for this. Buildings are engineered to withstand extreme wind loads, the warning system is well-established, and the city’s recovery speed after a storm is remarkably fast. Understanding how the system works is the single most useful thing a new expat can do before their first typhoon season.
2025 was a record year: the Hong Kong Observatory issued tropical cyclone warnings 14 times, the highest count since 1946. The city saw two Signal No. 10 events in a single season for the first time in decades. The 2026 forecast from the Hong Kong Observatory calls for four to seven tropical cyclones passing within 500 kilometres of Hong Kong, close to the long-term average.
When Is Typhoon Season?
The official typhoon season in Hong Kong runs from May through November, but the peak danger window is July through September. During these three months, the probability of a typhoon affecting the city is around 50 to 60 percent in any given month.
Tropical cyclones form over the warm waters of the western Pacific and typically track westward or northwestward toward the South China Sea. Not every storm that forms will hit Hong Kong directly. Since 1987, only a handful have made direct landfall on the territory. What is far more common is a near miss: a storm passing within 200 to 400 kilometres, still close enough to bring gale-force winds and heavy rain.
The Hong Kong Observatory (天文台) is the sole authority for issuing tropical cyclone warnings. Their free mobile app, “MyObservatory,” is essential for any resident. It pushes real-time signal updates, rainfall warnings, and radar imagery directly to your phone. The app is available in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
How the Warning Signal System Works
Hong Kong uses a numbered signal system, from Standby Signal No. 1 to Hurricane Signal No. 10. The numbers are not sequential because the system dates back to the early 20th century, when physical signals were hoisted at harbourside masts for mariners.
| Signal | Name | Sustained Wind Speed | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Standby | N/A | A tropical cyclone is within 800 km. Stay alert. |
| T3 | Strong Wind | 41 to 62 km/h | Strong winds expected. Outdoor activities become risky. |
| T8 | Gale or Storm | 63 to 117 km/h | Gale-force winds. Work and schools suspended. |
| T9 | Increasing Gale | 118+ km/h (increasing) | Hurricane-force winds imminent. Stay indoors. |
| T10 | Hurricane | 118+ km/h (sustained) | Direct hit or very close pass. Maximum danger. |
T8 is the signal that changes daily life. When it goes up, the city effectively shuts down. Signal No. 8 actually has four variants (8NW, 8SW, 8NE, 8SE) indicating the wind direction, but the practical effect is the same regardless of which variant is hoisted.
The transition from T3 to T8 can happen quickly. In some cases, the Observatory gives a “pre-T8” advisory a few hours in advance, but this is not guaranteed. Keeping MyObservatory notifications enabled is the most reliable way to stay informed.
It is worth noting that Hong Kong also has a separate rainstorm warning system (Amber, Red, Black) that operates independently of the typhoon signals. A Black Rainstorm warning can trigger school closures and work disruptions even without a typhoon, and the two systems can be active simultaneously during severe weather.
What Happens When Signal No. 8 Goes Up
Signal No. 8 is the threshold that triggers Hong Kong’s work suspension framework. The rules come from the Labour Department’s Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather, and every employer in Hong Kong is expected to follow them.
Before Working Hours
If T8 is issued before your normal working hours begin, you are not required to go to work unless your employment contract specifically designates you as essential typhoon staff. Most office-based expats fall outside this category.
During Working Hours
If T8 is raised while you are already at work, employers should release non-essential staff in stages. The Labour Department guidance is explicit: employers should not require all staff to leave simultaneously, as this overwhelms the transport system. In practice, many companies announce staggered departure times by department.
The Two-Hour Return Window
This is the rule that catches many expats off guard. When T8 is cancelled (downgraded to T3 or below) more than three hours before the end of your normal working hours, you are expected to return to work within two hours. If the cancellation happens less than three hours before your shift ends, you do not need to return.
Salary and Leave
Employers may deduct wages proportionally if an employee is absent without reasonable explanation during T8. However, employers cannot require staff to use annual leave or statutory holidays to cover typhoon absence. The Employees’ Compensation Ordinance also provides coverage for injuries sustained while commuting during adverse weather, extending to four hours before work starts or after work ends.
Schools
All government and most private schools suspend classes when T8 is in force. International schools generally follow the same practice, but each school sets its own policy. If your children attend school in Hong Kong, check the parent handbook for the school’s specific typhoon protocol before the season begins.
How Public Transport Responds
Each transport operator follows its own typhoon protocol, and the sequence of shutdowns follows a predictable pattern.
Ferries are the first to stop. Star Ferry and outlying island ferries typically suspend service when T8 is issued or shortly before. If you live on Lantau, Cheung Chau, Lamma, or any outlying island, plan to be on the last ferry home well before T8 is expected.
Buses are next. KMB, Citybus, and New World First Bus progressively reduce and then suspend routes after T8 is issued. MTR Corporation buses stop three hours after T8 is raised.
The MTR is the last service standing and the most reliable transport option during a typhoon. Underground sections continue running at reduced frequency even during T8. This is important to know: if you need to get home after T8 is raised, the MTR underground is likely your best option. However, if the signal is upgraded to T9 or T10, above-ground and open-air sections (including the Light Rail) suspend immediately. Underground stations remain open as shelters where possible.
Taxis remain available but become scarce quickly once T8 is raised. Ride-hailing apps will show surge pricing and long wait times. Do not count on a taxi as your primary plan for getting home during a typhoon.
Flights face significant disruption during major storms. During Super Typhoon Ragasa in September 2025, more than 600 flights were cancelled at Hong Kong International Airport. If a typhoon is approaching during your travel dates, check your airline’s rebooking policy early. Most carriers offer free rebooking for typhoon-related cancellations, but availability fills up fast.
Cross-border transport to Shenzhen is also affected. High-speed rail services on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and cross-boundary buses may suspend during T8. Commuters who work across the border should have a contingency plan for staying on whichever side they find themselves when the signal goes up.
Typhoon Preparation Checklist
Preparation should happen before the first storm of the season, not when a warning is already active. Supermarkets and hardware stores see heavy demand once a T8 warning appears likely, and certain items sell out quickly.
Water and Food
Store at least three litres of drinking water per person per day for a minimum of three days. Stock non-perishable foods that do not require cooking: canned goods, instant noodles, crackers, nuts, and energy bars. If you have young children, ensure you have adequate formula, baby food, and nappies for several days.
Power and Communication
Fully charge all mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and portable power banks before the storm arrives. Keep LED flashlights, spare batteries, and at least one battery-powered lantern accessible. Power outages during T10 are uncommon in urban high-rises, but they do occur in village housing, older buildings, and ground-floor units affected by flooding.
Home Preparation
Bring all items inside from balconies and rooftop areas: potted plants, drying racks, loose furniture, and decorations. Anything left outside becomes a projectile in hurricane-force winds. Tape large windows in an X pattern with strong adhesive tape to reduce the risk of glass shattering inward. Place spare towels along window sills, particularly beneath wall-mounted air conditioning units, which are prone to leaking during heavy driving rain.
Medical Supplies
Ensure you have adequate prescription medications for at least one week, a basic first aid kit with bandages and antiseptic, and any infant or elderly care supplies your household requires. Pharmacies and clinics may close during T8 and will certainly be closed during T9 and T10.
Know Your Building
Most residential buildings in Hong Kong have management offices that coordinate typhoon preparations: checking windows on common floors, securing rooftop facilities, and managing emergency water supplies. Introduce yourself to your building’s management office before typhoon season begins and ask about their typhoon protocol.
During and After the Storm
During the Typhoon
Stay indoors and away from windows. Monitor the Hong Kong Observatory app for real-time updates on the storm’s track and expected signal changes. Do not go outside to photograph or watch the storm: flying debris, not the wind itself, is the primary cause of injuries during typhoons. In 2025, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused 101 injuries across Hong Kong, many from falling trees and shattered glass.
If you live in a high-rise, you may feel the building sway during peak gusts. This is normal and by design: Hong Kong’s building codes require structures to flex under extreme wind loads rather than resist rigidly. The movement can feel unsettling, particularly above the 30th floor, but it is not a structural concern.
After the Storm Passes
Even after the signal is lowered, hazards remain. Fallen trees block footpaths and roads. Ragasa toppled over 5,000 trees across the city in September 2025, and cleanup took several days. Localised flooding can persist in low-lying areas, particularly in the New Territories and along coastal promenades.
Public transport resumes in stages, not all at once. MTR underground services resume first, followed by above-ground rail, then buses, then ferries. Allow extra travel time on the day after a major storm.
Check your flat for water damage, especially around windows and air conditioning units. If you have home contents insurance, document any damage with photographs before cleaning up. Report structural damage to your building management office immediately.
What 2025 Taught Hong Kong
The 2025 typhoon season was unusually intense. Typhoon Wipha triggered Signal No. 10 in July, and Super Typhoon Ragasa followed in September with sustained winds reaching 230 km/h near its centre. Ragasa’s T10 signal lasted 10 hours and 40 minutes, the second-longest duration in Hong Kong’s records after Tropical Storm York in 1999.
Ragasa was also notable for triggering T10 while still 120 kilometres from the city, the furthest distance at which the signal has ever been raised. This was due to the storm’s exceptionally large wind field. Waves from Ragasa shattered glass doors at the Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel and flooded its lobby. A storm surge of 3.4 metres was recorded at Quarry Bay, and over 600 flights were cancelled.
Climate researchers found that human-driven warming contributed to Ragasa’s intensity, a finding that underscores why the 2026 season and beyond may continue to produce powerful storms.
The practical takeaway for expats is clear: preparation matters, the warning system works, and Hong Kong’s infrastructure recovers quickly. Within 48 hours of Ragasa’s passage, the MTR was running full service and most businesses had reopened. The city is built to handle this.
