Victoria Harbour sees first recorded waterspout in Hong Kong history
A waterspout was observed over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour at 12:30 local time on Saturday, September 28, 2024, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. This marks the first recorded occurrence of a waterspout in the harbor since records began in 1959.
Image credit: 哈里哈你
A waterspout appeared over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on Saturday afternoon, marking the first recorded occurrence of the phenomenon in the harbor since 1959, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
The waterspout, which is a rapidly rotating column of water, was seen moving from east to west across the harbor.
The phenomenon began near the Laguna Verde Ocean residential estate in Hung Hom, then moved swiftly westward before dissipating after hitting a wall at the Tai Wan Shan Swimming Pool. The event lasted only a few minutes.
Former Observatory assistant director Leung Wing-mo emphasized the need for caution, citing an incident in Macau where a waterspout with winds of 100 km/h (62 mph) created dangerous conditions.
The Hong Kong Observatory had previously warned of violent gusts due to an upper-air disturbance affecting the region, leading to showers and severe thunderstorms, particularly over the eastern parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon East. A gust warning was issued at 13:10 LT, advising people outdoors to seek safe shelter.
Recent waterspouts have also been recorded in Hong Kong in June and April of this year, but none had occurred within Victoria Harbour until now.
Waterspouts are relatively rare in Hong Kong, especially in urbanized areas like Victoria Harbour. While they can occur in coastal regions under certain meteorological conditions, the specific combination of factors required makes them an uncommon phenomenon.
Although waterspouts have been observed in other parts of Hong Kong, such as the waters west of the city and around the outlying islands, these events remain infrequent. The rarity is largely due to the specific atmospheric conditions needed to generate a waterspout, including the presence of convective clouds and atmospheric instability, which do not often align over Hong Kong’s waters.
While less intense than tornadoes over land, waterspouts can still pose hazards.
References:
1 Waterspout spotted over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour for first time since records began – SCMP – September 28, 2024
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