From Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post:
Hong Kong residents were told to be ready for Super Typhoon Mangkhut by Saturday night as the Observatory warned winds would pick up sharply after midnight, with a typhoon No 10 signal possible on Sunday.
The Observatory assistant director Cheng Cho-ming said Mangkhut had weakened as it swept through the Philippines but it remained strong, poising a “serious threat” to the Guangdong region. He said the whole of Hong Kong would be affected.
“The wind strength will grow very quickly after midnight, so if [residents] need to prepare for the storm, it is best if they can finish it by today. The earlier the better,” Cheng said on a radio show on Saturday morning.
As Super Typhoon Mangkhut continues to gather strength in the Western Pacific, Hongkongers are bracing for what may be the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to hit the city.
Vegetable prices went up as families stocked up while windows were taped and discussions were had over whether this was even the best practice.
Now keep in mind that Hong Kong has a population of around 8 million people and it is very densely populated in a small area.
If Mangkhut hits, this will be calamitous.
Update: China’s National Meteorological Centre has warned the typhoon is due to make landfall on Sunday afternoon or night.
All flights are being cancelled and citizens are being urged to stay indoors and prepare for impact
Uh oh:
Chinese nuclear power plant in path of Super Typhoon Mangkhut
A nuclear power plant stands just 30km (19 miles) from where Super Typhoon Mangkhut is expected to make landfall in mainland China, which could be as early as Sunday afternoon.
Workers at the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station in Guangdong province, which has five generating units, each with 1,086 megawatts of capacity, and a sixth under construction, are preparing for the approaching storm. The plant is just 230 km away from Hong Kong.
“The Yangjiang nuclear power station stands in combat readiness to defend against Mangkhut,” said a message on the plant’s official WeChat account.
Super Typhoon Mangkhut: Chinese nuclear plants in EMERGENCY lockdown set for direct hit
h/t Jillian Snark