HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Observatory issued the Standby Signal No. 1 on Wednesday morning as severe typhoon Podul is expected to maintain a distance of over 400 kilometers from the city for most of the day.

The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 8:40 am and will remain in force throughout Wednesday, the HKO said in a weather bulletin.

Hot weather will persist across the city on Wednesday due to the outer subsiding air of Podul, according to the HKO.

Temperatures in the urban areas are forecast to reach around 35 degrees Celsius, with the New Territories experiencing even higher temperatures by a few degrees, the HKO added.

The HKO also warned that high temperatures could trigger showers and squally thunderstorms later in the day, particularly affecting Guangdong and the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary.

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Podul will be closest to Hong Kong on Thursday morning, the HKO added.

“The heavy squally showers and thunderstorms associated with Podul will affect the coastal areas of Guangdong on Thursday and Friday,” the observatory said.

The observatory said it will assess the need to issue Strong Wind Signal No. 3 between late Wednesday and early Thursday, depending on Podul’s path, intensity, and its distance from the Pearl River Estuary, as well as changes in local wind conditions.

With Podul departing and the anticyclone aloft strengthening, the weather will improve during the weekend, according to the HKO.