Hong Kong's weather forecaster lowered the red rainstorm warning signal an hour and 45 minutes after issuing it on Thursday morning, with heavy rains pounding the city for the second consecutive day.

The Hong Kong Observatory initially hoisted the red warning signal – the second in its three-tier rainstorm alert system – at 7:40 am, urging members of the public to take precautions as heavy rain exceeding 50 millimeters had fallen or was expected to fall over the territory, before lowering it to the amber alert at 9:25 am.

“Further heavy rain could cause, if not already caused, serious road flooding and traffic congestion and could disrupt normal school hours,” the HKO said.  

The Education Department suspended classes in morning and whole-day schools, but with the rainstorm warning lowered to amber before 10:30 am, afternoon classes were expected to proceed as usual.

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The Social Welfare Department also advised members of the public not to take their children or family members to units providing child care center services, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, and after school care programs for pre-primary or primary school children, elderly services centers, day pre-school rehabilitation services units or day rehabilitation units including integrated vocational rehabilitation services centers, integrated vocational training centers and day activity centers.

The observatory eventually canceled the amber rainstorm signal at 10:20 am, but a thunderstorm warning issued at 5:19 am was extended until 12:30 pm.  

Areas of thundery showers were still developing over the coast of western Guangdong and a few squally thunderstorms were expected over Lantau, the observatory added.