BEN WESTCOTTben.westcott@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Thursday, 06 August, 2015, 12:19pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 06 August, 2015, 12:20pm
The eye of Typhoon Soudelor as it moves towards the west Pacific. Photo: AFP
The Hong Kong Observatory has downgraded Soudelor from a super typhoon to a “severe typhoon” as its wind speeds continue to drop, but warned it could pick up again as it approaches Taiwan.
The downgrade came one day after the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre also reduced its rating from a super typhoon level, despite winds remaining at a roaring 175 km/h.
The observatory announced the severe typhoon rating on Wednesday night and forecast it would remain at that level throughout Thursday.
But forecasters said the storm was expected to grow into a super typhoon again on Friday before it hits Taiwan.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, typhoon Soudelor is the equal seventh-strongest storm to affect the region in the past six years.
Taiwan is bracing itself for the tropical cyclone, which is expected to make landfall before Friday evening, by preparing emergency food and water supplies.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1847001/hong-kong-downgrades-soudelor-severe-typhoon-may
