HONG KONG – Heavy rain drenched Hong Kong on Thursday morning, prompting the city’s observatory to issue a red rainstorm warning signal.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued the red rainstorm warning first at 9:36 am, saying heavy rain exceeding 50 millimeters per hour is expected to continue across the territory. It downgraded the red alert to amber at 10:40 am, but only to revert it to red two hours later. At 3:30 pm, the red rainstorm warning signal was downgraded again to amber.

The HKO warned that the downpour could lead to serious road flooding and traffic congestion, urging the public to take precautions. 

The HKO warned of potential flash floods, advising residents to stay away from watercourses for their safety.

By 10 am, the Drainage Services Department reported two cases of flooding in San Tin Highway of the New Territories. The department dispatched an emergency team to handle it.

On a social media post, the department said it had dispatched 100 emergency response teams to patrol low-lying areas with high risks of flooding and clear congestion. 

Heavy rain may also disrupt normal school hours, the HKO said, advising parents, students, school authorities and school-bus drivers to monitor radio or television announcements for updates on school arrangements.

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Due to inclement weather, the Education Bureau announced that all afternoon schools will be closed on Thursday.

Morning and whole-day schools currently in session should continue operating until the end of the school day. Students should only be allowed to return home when it is safe to do so.

Classes of all day schools, including secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, and kindergartens-cum-child care centers, will be suspended on Friday, the bureau added.

A parent surnamed Lam, whose eight-year-old son studies at Primary Two level at a North Point primary school, expressed deep disappointment over the cancelation of his son’s semester closing ceremony tomorrow, with the government announcing that all schools will be closed tomorrow due to bad weather.  

“It’s deeply disappointing. This ceremony marks the semester’s end where parents watch their children receive awards and capture precious memories together at school,” said Lam.

Lam is yet to be informed about whether the ceremony will be held at a future date.

The bad weather has denied these children the opportunity to enjoy what should have been some of the most memorable moments of the year, but we had to stay home instead, said Lam, adding that he hopes the school will reschedule the ceremony.

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Zhou Yameng, a postgraduate student in Hong Kong, left her Tai Wai residence 20 minutes earlier than usual to get to her internship job in Chai Wan on time, as she was worried about long queues at the MTR station during the storms.

Zhou, who was woken up by the thunder, said her umbrella had been completely useless on her way to the subway, as the rain was pouring down so heavily

A staff member working for a local NGO in the southern district of Hong Kong island, who refused to be named, said the NGO had received several requests for temporary care of kindergarten kids, with the suspension of afternoon activities at schools due to the heavy rain.

Huang Yawen contributed to the story.