Typhoon signals and black rain in Hong Kong

At home a big storm means the BOM issues a warning and you decide what to do. In Hong Kong the signal decides for you.

The short version

Tropical cyclone signals run 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10. Signal 8 is the big one: offices close, schools shut and most transport winds down [2][3].
Rainstorm warnings are amber, red and black, set at more than 30, 50 and 70 mm of rain an hour [1].
Under T8, Black Rain or "extreme conditions", employers shouldn't require general staff to come in, and shouldn't dock pay or annual leave for it [2].
All schools suspend classes at Pre-No. 8 or No. 8. Kindergartens already close at T3 [3].
The Australian Consulate-General closes at Typhoon 8 and Black Rain, so plan passport errands around the season [4].

The signals, decoded

Hong Kong's typhoon season runs roughly from May to November, with the peak from July to September. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) issues two separate systems: tropical cyclone signals for wind, and rainstorm warnings for rain. They can be up at the same time.

Tropical cyclone signals

Signal	What it means	What changes for you
T1 (Standby)	A tropical cyclone is close enough that it may affect Hong Kong	Nothing yet. Check the forecast and your supplies
T3 (Strong wind)	Strong winds are expected or blowing near sea level	Kindergartens close; ferries may run reduced services; secure balcony items [3]
Pre-No. 8 special announcement	The Observatory expects to raise T8 soon	Head home now. Schools suspend classes; offices start releasing staff [3]
T8 (Gale or storm)	Gale or storm-force winds expected or blowing, shown as NW, SW, NE or SE	Offices close, schools shut, buses and ferries stop, underground MTR keeps running for a while [2][3]
T9 (Increasing gale or storm)	Winds are expected to strengthen significantly	Stay indoors, away from windows
T10 (Hurricane)	Hurricane-force winds expected or blowing	Stay indoors, away from windows, in an inner room if you can

HKO publishes the exact wind speeds behind each signal. Roughly, T3 means strong winds, T8 gales of 63 km/h and up, and T10 hurricane force of about 118 km/h and up. The Pre-No. 8 announcement is the one to watch. It's usually issued a couple of hours before T8 to give people time to get home, and the whole city moves at once.

Rainstorm warnings

The Observatory sets these by rainfall intensity across Hong Kong, though it can issue them in prolonged heavy rain even if the hourly totals aren't reached [1].

Warning	Rainfall	What HKO tells you to do
Amber	Over 30 mm an hour, likely to continue	Watch for flooding, avoid watercourses. Schools run as normal [1][3]
Red	Over 50 mm an hour, likely to continue	Outdoor workers may stop. Students who haven't left home stay home [1]
Black	Over 70 mm an hour, likely to continue	Stay indoors or in a safe place until it passes. Employers shouldn't require staff to come in [1][2]

For scale, Sydney's heaviest summer storms can do this for an hour. In Hong Kong a black rain event can sit over the city for several hours, and the hillsides, steep streets and underground car parks behave like stormwater drains.

Work: what your employer can and can't ask

This is where Hong Kong looks very different from Australia. There's no Fair Work-style statute requiring employers to close during storms, but the Labour Department publishes a Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and "Extreme Conditions", updated in May 2026, and most employers follow it [2].

Under the code [2]:

When T8 or above, Black Rain or "extreme conditions" is in force, employers shouldn't require general staff to report to work. They should name a small number of "designated staff" in advance for essential work.
If you aren't required to report, your employer shouldn't deduct wages, attendance bonuses or allowances, or make you make up the hours.
Employers can't force you to use annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days to cover the time.
When a signal is cancelled during working hours, staff are generally expected back within about two hours. If it's cancelled close to knock-off time, you shouldn't have to go back.
Under Black Rain, people already at work indoors usually stay put, because leaving in the middle of a deluge is often more dangerous than staying [2].

"Extreme conditions" is a separate government announcement for very serious disasters, such as a super typhoon, prolonged large-scale power cuts or major flooding and landslides [2]. It can keep the city closed after T8 comes down, so don't assume the office reopens the moment the signal drops.

Read your contract and staff handbook. Many international employers in Central and Quarry Bay have a typhoon and rainstorm policy that spells out working from home, and some roles (hospitals, transport, IT support) are designated staff by default.

Domestic helpers

If you employ a domestic helper, the same principles apply on their rest day: don't require them to go out or come back in dangerous weather, and make sure they have somewhere safe to wait it out. The code applies to all employees, not just office workers [2].

School and kindergarten

The Education Bureau's rules apply to local, international and ESF schools alike [3].

T1 and Amber: schools open as usual.
T3: kindergartens and special schools suspend classes. Other schools open.
Pre-No. 8 or T8: all schools suspend classes.
Red or Black before 6am: morning and whole-day classes are off. Students who haven't left home stay home.
Red or Black after 8am: schools keep children on site and don't send them out into the storm. Lessons continue until normal dismissal, once it's safe [3].

The most stressful scenario for new parents is a Red or Black warning in the middle of the school run. The rule is that schools keep their doors open and supervise children who arrive [3]. Don't race across town to collect them in a black rainstorm. Watch for the school's own message, which usually comes through its app.

Getting around in a storm

Transport doesn't stop at a single moment, it winds down. Under T8, buses, minibuses and most ferries progressively stop, and taxis become scarce and expensive. The MTR keeps its underground lines running longer than open-air sections. Flights in and out of Hong Kong International Airport are delayed or cancelled, and Smartraveller warns about flight and ferry cancellations during typhoons [4].

If you live on Lamma, Lantau's south side, Discovery Bay or Sai Kung, T3 is your real cue. The last ferry before suspension fills fast.

Preparing your flat

Most Hong Kong flats are in solid concrete towers, and the real risks are windows, water and being stuck at home for a day or two.

Check your windows. Old aluminium frames rattle and leak. Close every window properly and lock the latches. Taping glass in a cross is an old habit you'll still see. It won't stop a pane breaking, so the real protection is closing windows and staying away from them.
Clear the balcony. Bring in pot plants, chairs and drying racks. Flying objects are a real hazard from high floors.
Lay towels. Wind-driven rain gets in through the frames. Put towels along sills and keep a mop handy.
Stock up before T3. Two or three days of water, food that doesn't need cooking, torch, power bank and any medicines. Supermarkets empty fast once T8 looks likely.
Know your lift. In a power cut you'll be on the stairs. Factor that in if you're on the 40th floor with a pram.
Low-lying or ground floor? Smartraveller notes that strong winds, heavy rain and storm surge can flood low-lying coastal areas [4]. If you're in Heng Fa Chuen, Tai O or on the waterfront at Shek O, ask your building management about sandbags.

Before you sign a lease, ask the agent what happened to the building in the last big typhoon. Our renting guide covers that conversation.

Keeping family in Australia in the loop

Typhoons make the news in Australia, and your mum will see footage of waves smashing into Heng Fa Chuen before you've even woken up.

Install the MyObservatory app. HKO's official app pushes signal changes and rain warnings. Share screenshots in the family group chat.
Register your plans. Smartraveller no longer runs a registration service, but you can subscribe to its Hong Kong travel advice updates [4].
Save the Consulate-General's details. The Australian Consulate-General is at 23/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, and closes at T8 and Black Rain [4]. In an emergency when it's closed, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305.
Agree a check-in rule. For example, a message when T8 goes up and another when it comes down.
Check your insurance. Home contents cover in Hong Kong often has specific rules about typhoon damage and broken windows.

Storm days can be oddly social. Neighbours share supplies, and the bars in Lan Kwai Fong famously fill up the moment the signal comes down. Join Cooee Hong Kong, our Facebook group for Australians in Hong Kong, for real-time chat on which ferries are still running.

Typhoon signals and black rain: what Hong Kong expects of you