A rare barrage of black rainstorm warnings has unleashed record-breaking floods on Hong Kong, paralyzing the Asian financial hub and disrupting life across South China’s Pearl River Delta. On Tuesday, over 350mm (13.8 inches) of rain drenched the city by 2 p.m., marking the highest single-day rainfall for August since records began in 1884.
The downpour prompted the city’s weather authorities to extend their highest-tier “black rainstorm warning” for hours, as torrents of water cascaded down steep hillsides and flooded streets. The extreme weather has been linked to climate change by meteorologists and it presents a growing challenge for authorities in mainland China and the wider region, with recent events sweeping people to their deaths and causing billions of dollars in economic damage.
This flooding is also a symptom of a broader atmospheric pattern, as the East Asian monsoon has stalled over northern and southern China for weeks, causing widespread atmospheric chaos since early July. The black rainstorm warning issued on Tuesday was the fourth time in just eight days, a new record for the most frequent issuance of the city’s highest weather alert within a single year, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. This record-breaking rainfall has had a ripple effect across the region.
Hong Kong, Guangdong Province, and Macau—the core of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship Greater Bay Area initiative—have all been hit by the torrential downpours.
Macau issued its own red rain warning, while authorities in Guangdong reported that four of the province’s rivers were at risk of bursting their banks, following deadly flash floods that left five people dead over the weekend.
The deluge caused major disruption in Hong Kong, with medical authorities closing clinics, and the judiciary shutting down courts, tribunals, and register offices. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange, however, remained open after a recent policy change to continue trading in all weather conditions.
The broader Greater Bay Area saw significant travel disruptions, with airports reporting cancellation rates of around 20%, and speed limits on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge lowered due to poor visibility.
Despite the widespread closures and chaos, a glimmer of normalcy remained: Hong Kong Disneyland announced it would stay open, offering a magical reprieve amid the downpour.
