On November 9, 2024, Hong Kong faced an unprecedented meteorological event with the arrival of Super Typhoon Yinxing, marking a significant shift in the city's climate history. This late-season typhoon, alongside the looming threat of a second storm, highlights the alarming impacts of climate change on weather patterns.
Experts attribute this unusual phenomenon to the abnormally warm waters of the South China Sea, where sea surface temperatures have soared above historical averages. This thermal anomaly has provided the energy necessary for tropical cyclone development well into November, a time when such storms are typically rare.
Yinxing has become the strongest November typhoon on record for Hong Kong, with wind speeds reaching up to 232 km/h. The rapid intensification of this storm reflects the increased energy available in the warming ocean, raising concerns about future storm development and disaster management.
This event parallels similar extreme weather conditions globally, such as catastrophic flooding in Spain, underscoring the interconnectedness of climate disruptions. As Hong Kong braces for potential subsequent storms, it is clear that traditional seasonal patterns may no longer apply, demanding urgent reassessment of resilience strategies.