Hello Molave: First Typhoon of '09

We survived our first typhoon in Hong Kong. Named Molave, it arrived on Saturday night, as we were out having dinner in SoHo.

We had an idea that a big storm was on its way when we started seeing signs posted in building lobbies that the T3 signal, or warning, was issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. The HKO is like the National Weather Service in the States -- they have all the official weather information for the area and will issue warnings for typhoons (also called "hoisting" a signal). The signals are issued according to the following scale:

• T1: Standby signal. Storm is within 800 km of Hong Kong and may affect the area.
• T3: Strong winds expected, between 41-62 km/hr, gusting to 110 km/hr.
• T8: Persistent, gale-force winds, up to 180 km/hr.
• T9: Gale-force winds expected to increase significantly in strength.
• T10: Hurricane winds expected.

During dinner, all we saw was a little rain, so we were doubtful that things would get worse. But then around 11, we heard that the T8 signal was going to be issued soon. Once that happened, getting home could be a problem because the ferries stop running and suddenly the price of a taxi is three times the normal fare. That is, if you can even get one! Fortunately, the MTR still runs, at least until the T9 signal.

So our dinner party broke up a little early, everyone rushing off to get a cab or head to the ferry pier. When we arrived home, we could hear the wind rattling the windows and howling uncomfortably around our building. Out in the street, the trees were bent over, waving in the wind and rain. But that's all that happened; there wasn't even any thunder and lightning.

The next morning, we saw a little bit of storm damage. Small branches and trash littered the street. Our balcony was covered with strange white flecks, which we realized were chips of paint that had peeled off from the floor above. A glass-covered walkway in our building was shattered, most likely from something that was blown off of someone's balcony. The worst thing for me, though, was the post-storm smell. The rain and wind must have dredged up the pollution in the harbour and backed up the sewers, so a very nasty smell hung heavy in the air, along with the usual oppressive heat and humidity.

The newspaper that day carried all the typhoon's vital statistics: top sustained winds in the city of 148 km/hr; five people injured; 11 flights canceled; and 425 reports of fallen trees, including one that came down on top of a bus as it traveled on the road (no injuries). Only three reports of bamboo scaffolding falling down, which I think is a total miracle.