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The first activation of the Black Rainstorm Signal: What kind of meteorological history is hidden behind this?
On the evening of September 7, 2023, Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region suffered a historic rainstorm, causing widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in four deaths and numerous injuries. This sudden rain was like a drop on a calm lake. The stones have aroused people's thinking about meteorological history.
Review of meteorological events
The roots of this torrential rain can be traced back to September 5, 2023, when Typhoon Haikui made landfall in China's Fujian Province. The remnants of the typhoon then entered Guangdong and stayed over the Pearl River Delta for two days. As the low-pressure trough of Haikui interacted with the southwest monsoon, extreme rainfall began to occur in parts of the Pearl River Delta from the night of September 7.
According to data from the Hong Kong Observatory, by 7pm on September 7, Sha Tau Kok in the North District had recorded more than 70mm of rainfall.
This series of meteorological changes led to the Observatory issuing a flood alert for the Northern New Territories at 7:50 p.m., followed soon after by an amber rainstorm signal and a red signal, culminating in a black signal, the highest warning level, at 11:05 p.m. Heavy rain signal. This is the first time a Black Alert has been activated since two years ago, marking an important moment in Hong Kong's meteorological history.
Data analysis of extreme rainfall
According to the records of the Hong Kong Observatory, in just one hour between 11pm on September 7 and 0am on September 8, the total rainfall reached 158.1mm, which not only set a record for Hong Kong since 1884, but also set a record for Hong Kong’s rainfall in the past 12 hours. It is a record high and also the wettest rainstorm in Hong Kong. 0830 Early on the first day, the Black Rainstorm Signal lasted for more than 16 hours, the longest since the rainstorm warning system was implemented in 1992.
Overall, the Observatory recorded a total of more than 632 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, once again reminding people of the potential risks of such meteorological events.
In some areas, including Sha Tin and Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island, more than 800 mm of rainfall was recorded in 12 hours, with some places such as Tai Tam receiving as much as 900 mm.
Impact and post-disaster review
The impact of the heavy rain could not be ignored, with Wo Che and other areas reporting severe flooding, causing flooding in shopping malls and subway stations, and forcing authorities to close several subway lines. Many residents faced chest-deep water and had to flee their homes.
In areas close to the Sunke Mountain area, huge rock slides destroyed several sections of roads, and some luxury homes faced hidden dangers after the mudslides.
The government was quick to issue warnings about drainage measures during the rainstorm, but residents were skeptical, especially around the Tai Po River. Some people pointed out that once the drainage measures were implemented, many houses in the villages would be immediately affected.
Government response and controversy
As the situation worsened, the Hong Kong government announced on September 8 that all schools in Hong Kong would be closed, but the leave policy for non-essential workers was just a "reminder." The move sparked public discontent and discussion, with many accusing the government of being slow to respond and failing to effectively deal with this unprecedented disaster.
The Hong Kong government initially described this type of rainfall as "once in a hundred years", and then upgraded it to "once in 500 years", sparking public dissatisfaction and doubts.
Faced with public accusations, the government's statement was seen as an attempt to shirk responsibility, and criticisms continued. Observers point out that there is a need for a comprehensive review of the government's emergency response capabilities and measures to deal with possible natural disasters in the future.
Conclusion
The occurrence of this incident is not only a major event in Hong Kong's meteorological history, but also a reminder that we must face up to the impact of climate change. How can we improve emergency response systems and monitoring capabilities to better protect people’s lives and safety?
