AUG 27, 17 .. HONG KONG STORM PAKHAR..

A severe monsoon rain storm or typhoon came through Hong Kong today, Sunday the 27th of August. When I was up at 2:30am the rain had started. By sunrise the city was basically 'shut down'. The storm, named Pakhar, was given a very high Tropical Cyclone Rating of T-8. T-10 is the highest storm rating in this area.

Severe Tropical Storm Pakhar wreaked havoc at the airport.

  42 Incoming flights were aborted.
206 Flights were cancelled.
471 Flights were delayed.

All bus service was stopped. Residents were told to stay home and avoid going out.

I stayed the day at the YMCA but I did venture out about 5pm in the late afternoon when the storm rating was lowered to T-3.

My reward was to get absolutely drenched by torrential rains. When I stepped out of the YMCA it was only a heavy mist. Safe for me to take a walk. Within five minutes the skies opened-up and the winds again swept through the city and sheets of rain drenched everyone outside, umbrella or not, the wind made sure we all got very wet.

I did enjoy a very nice meal at Dan Ryan's fancy restaurant at Harbor City.

"What's that you ask me 'Zilla?" .. 
"Why is this Post over here on blogspot?" .. 
"I am not able to access Dot.net so it was this or nothing."

I won't comment further (my mind is thinking something like THIS IS nothing Captain).

I fly to Seattle this upcoming Tuesday (the day after tomorrow).

Still Smiling .. Cap

JUN 25, 15 .. HONG KONG .. SUMMER RAIN ..

I recently returned from a three week trip to India. During my visit .. 12 May to 4 June .. the heat in India (up to 47C or 117F) was so severe that formal heat warnings were being published in the newspapers and were also being broadcast on radio and television. Many people .. several thousand at last count .. died from the heat and its effects.

When I left for India .. people here in Hong Kong were beginning to 'fret' about the Hong Kong summer heat that would be approaching the 30C to 33C (86F to 92F) temperature range.

When I returned on 4 June  .. Because of the high India temperatures the Hong Kong temperatures of 33C (92F) felt very pleasant. Now they feel hot to me! Go figure!

Hong Kong heat comes with humidity. So when you have a very humid 33C (92F) it does feel 'sticky'.

Summer in Hong Kong is also the Typhoon or Monsoon season and that means RAIN!

This past week .. tropical depression Kujira came to visit the general area .. making landfall on Hainan Island out in the South China sea. 40,000 people were evacuated and 20,000 fishing boats called back to Haikou harbor.

The effect on Hong Kong .. some 400 Km (240 Miles) away from Hainan Island .. was rain and wind of from 20 to 40 Km/Hr with gusts on Hong Kong's Cheung Chau Island up to 70 Km/Hr. A standby weather signal was hoisted over Hong Kong.

The below photos show you a sample of what-it-looked like here in Hong Kong's Central Business District.

On the right below is the HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation) Building here in Hong Kong Central. To the left below is Statue Square.

Patti! Do you see the name on the man's Black and White umbrella on the right below?

In the foreground below are a few hearty souls with no umbrellas making-a-run for cover.

When 'almost-everyone' is using an umbrella it means that it is really REALLY raining!

Below is another 'hearty' soul with no umbrella. To the right of the traffic signal (touching it) below is the Hong Kong Central Library where I basically 'live' during many days.

Statue Square is to the left below.

In the background is the HSBC Building.

As you can see below .. I was right-in-amongst-them all.

The above and below photos show Exit K of the Central Station of the Hong Kong MTR subway system.

The four photos below were taken from the 6th floor of the Hong Kong Library. Each look out over Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor. I love this view in all weather conditions ..

On a clear and sunny day the open areas above and below are crowded with people. Across Victoria Harbor in Kowloon you can see the tallest building in the Hong Kong Metro Area .. The I.C.C. building.

I did a Post on the I.C.C. Building ..

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.hk/2015/02/feb-27-15-kowloon-hong-kong-icc-building.html

IF WE ALL DIDN'T KNOW BETTER .. WE WOULD ALL THINK THAT I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING HERE WITH INSERTING THESE LINKS .. SO I WON'T TALK WHILE THE FLAVOR LASTS .. /s/ captain ..

I also did a Post on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel ..

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.hk/2014/12/dec-9-14-hong-kong-has-one-big-wheel.html


YOU DID IT AGAIN CAPTAIN .. YOUR FOLLOWERS ARE GOING TO BELIEVE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THESE LINKS! ..

There-you-have-it .. A summer day of rain in Hong Kong ..

Smiles .. Cap .. 

Oh all right Trams! .. I will include your rainy-day photos as well! These tram photos are really just for you Patti ..

Now this is too funny. Even in the rain .. many of the tram windows are open. Until I learned the hard-way .. I would see an empty seat on a crowded tram and sit down .. 

IN A PUDDLE OF WATER FROM THE OPEN WINDOW ABOVE IT ..

Do you all see the open windows?

MAY 29, 15 .. SOME WEATHER NEWS FROM THE U.S.

I am here .. actually in India .. living this heat challenge .. And I am getting my news from you back in the United States .. Thanks Patti and 'Zilla ..

Hello Cap,

I just wanted to keep up your spirits as you are getting close to returning to Hong Kong and will be happy to return and enjoy the sea breeze in HK!

The latest article this morning on the heat situation in India. I am happy you are there and not me – you are one tough traveler!!!

Article: “More than 1,100 people have died in a major heatwave sweeping India, authorities said Wednesday, as forecasters warned searing temperatures would continue.

Southern India has borne the brunt of the hot, dry conditions and many of the victims are construction workers, elderly or homeless people unable to heed official advice to stay indoors.

Roads have melted in New Delhi, where forecasters said they expected the high temperatures to continue into next week — adding to the misery of thousands living on the capital’s streets with little shelter from the hot sun.

Brahma Prakash Yadav, director of Indian Meteorological Department, said top temperatures in the capital would remain around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) — the national benchmark for a heatwave.

“Maximum temperatures won’t fall substantially. However, major relief can be expected from June 2 as there are indications of good showers,” he said.

Hospitals in the worst-affected states were on alert to treat victims of heatstroke and authorities advised people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water.

Hundreds of people — mainly from the poorest sections of society — die at the height of summer every year across the country, while tens of thousands suffer power cuts from an overburdened electricity grid.” End of Article

Keep cool and have a good flight to HK! It’s interesting BTW how some acronyms carry on! Very nifty, since you and I have been using them for over at least 30 years!

'Zilla ..

Hi Cap,

A clip from my MS web site this morning:

“HYDERABAD, India (AP) — More than 750 people have died in southern India since the middle of April as soaring summer temperatures scorch the country, officials said Tuesday.

The southeastern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana have been hit the hardest.

More than 550 people have died from the unrelenting heat in Andhra Pradesh since May 13, state Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinna Rajappa said.

A top state official in Telangana, Bhambal Ram Meena, said about 215 heat-related deaths have been reported since April 15.

Daily temperatures in both states have hit between 45 and 48 degrees Celsius (113 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit). Officials have urged people to stay hydrated and remain indoors as much as possible.”

The article went on to say the heat wave will stay around until next week – about the time you are to depart! At least you should have a nice, cool flight back to Hong Kong!

Zilla

My friend I could not have said it as well as you so THANKS for the input ! 

Cap ..

Why did I put up this Post? Simply because I myself found the above information fascinating. So if it is of interest to me .. then maybe it will also be of some interest to some of you.