Observatory issues red signal at 5.05am on Thursday and warns that heavy rain could lead to major flooding around rivers
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenEric JiangPublished: 9:05am, 27 Aug 2026Updated: 9:12am, 27 Aug 2026Hong Kong’s weather forecaster issued a red rainstorm warning on Thursday morning, while education authorities announced that all morning and whole-day schools were suspended.
The Observatory issued the red signal – the middle level in a three-tier system – at 5.05am, and soon after also issued a Special Landslip Advisory warning of potential landslides in Po Toi Island due to heavy rain.
The Education Bureau announced that classes at all morning and whole-day schools were suspended.
However, if the red warning was downgraded to amber or cancelled at or before 10.30am, then classes of afternoon schools would proceed as usual, it added.
The Home Affairs Department opened temporary shelters for residents affected by the adverse weather.
The weather forecaster said on Thursday morning that the red warning indicated that heavy rain had fallen or was expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 50mm in an hour.
