The Hong Kong Observatory said it will downgrade the typhoon signal to T8 by 4:10 pm Sunday as Typhoon Wipha began to gradually move away from Hong Kong.  

The observatory said it would lower the typhoon warning from the Hurricane Signal, No. 10 to the Gale or Storm Signal, No. 8 as local winds also started to weaken.

A T8 signal means winds with a sustained speed of 63 to 117 kilometers per hour were blowing or expected to blow over Hong Kong.

“Wipha is departing from Hong Kong gradually and winds over the territory have also started to weaken, but southeasterly winds reaching hurricane force are still occasionally affecting the southwestern part of the territory,” the HKO said.

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“With local winds further weakening, the Observatory will issue the Gale or Storm Signal, No. 8 at 4:10 pm.”

The HKO said Wipha’s intense rainbands were bringing frequent heavy squally showers to Hong Kong and it urged the public to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

The Hospital Authority said two men were injured in Hong Kong on Sunday morning, while 221 people sought shelter at 34 temporary shelters opened across the city. There had been 85 reports of fallen trees by 10 am, but no flooding so far.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, with all high-speed rail services cancelled before 3pm on Sunday, as well as some after 3pm.

Among them are four members of the Li family, including two children, who had arrived in Hong Kong on Friday and were due to depart for Shenzhen at 4pm.

Li told China Daily they had to wait on the concourse in case train services resumed on schedule. They had decided to go ahead with the visit despite the approaching typhoon as they were unable to cancel their hotel bookings.

The Yue family is in the same boat, having arrived in the SAR on Friday and due to leave at 3pm, but their departure has been delayed to 4pm. Yue said the concourse was too crowded, with insufficient room for them to rest. And food supplies were hard to come by. 

Macao also raised the No 10 typhoon warning signal at 12:30 pm. 

Almost all cross-boundary bus services in Hong Kong were suspended. Shenzhen Bay ceased customs services until further notice.

Typhoon Wipha is the strongest storm to hit Hong Kong in two years, with average wind speeds exceeding 118 kilometers per hour. The last time the No. 10 signal was raised was in 2023 when Super Typhoon Saola struck. 

At 1 pm, Wipha was centered about 70 kilometers southwest of the observatory and was forecast to move west at about 22 kilometers per hour across the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary, towards the coast of western Guangdong.

READ MORE: Severe tropical storm Wipha blows away from Philippines

Hong Kong’s subway operator, Mass Transit Railway, suspended its open and light rail services.

The Airport Authority Hong Kong estimates that about 400 flights will resume this afternoon, involving about 80,000 passengers, with flights expected to take off gradually at about 1 or 2 pm. Around 500 flights were cancelled earlier.

The AAHK deployed an extra 1,000 staff to maintain operations after the No 8 storm or gale signal went up at 20 minutes past midnight. Water, blankets and food were distributed to stranded passengers. The airport authorities advised passengers to contact their airlines before leaving for the airport and allow enough time to make arrangements.

ALSO READ: Flood warning as Hong Kong braces for storm Wipha

The Education Bureau suspended all day and night school classes on Sunday, including those in secondary, primary and special schools, kindergartens, and kindergarten-cum-child care centers.

Due to the storm surge, water levels rose to about three meters above chart datum at Tai Po Kau on Sunday morning, and there may be flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Oliver Hu, 25, braved the typhoon by commuting from To Kwa Wan in Kowloon to Aberdeen in Hong Kong Island’s Southern District to work. The usual 40-minute journey took him almost two hours due to the suspension of public transportation services.

Hu said he was almost blown away by the strong winds, adding he could not see anyone on the streets on his way to his office.

A 33-year-old internet user who works in the catering sector told China Daily he was on his way to Lok Fu, Kowloon, for work after leaving his home in Shek Kip Mei in the morning.

As he approached the subway station, his employer informed him he did not have to show up for work, which is rare for the catering business that would normally continue operating during typhoons, even if the No 8 signal is up, and employees are usually required to report for duty.