By Edith Lin

Copyright scmp

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.
Hong Kong’s Observatory has warned of windy weather and swells for the rest of the weekend under the effects of a typhoon in the South China Sea but stressed it will pose a limited threat to the city.
The weather forecaster said on Saturday afternoon that Typhoon Bualoi – named after a kind of Thai dessert – was within 800km of Hong Kong. It said Bualoi would move across the central part of the South China Sea over the weekend towards the northern part of Vietnam.
“Bualoi is expected to maintain a distance of over 700km from Hong Kong. Its direct threat to the territory is not high,” the Observatory said.
“However, under the combined effect of the ridge of high pressure over the coast of southeastern China and Bualoi, it will be windy over the coast of southern China [on Saturday] and [Sunday]. Seas will be rough with swells.”
The forecaster said it would consider issuing the strong monsoon signal, subject to the change in local wind conditions.
The signal is issued when winds associated with the summer or winter monsoon are blowing or are expected to exceed 40km/h near sea level.
The forecaster called on the public to stay away from the shoreline and not participate in water sports.
Bualoi earlier swept through the central Philippines, killing at least 11 people and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Hong Kong was brought to a standstill on Wednesday by Super Typhoon Ragasa, which triggered the highest-level No 10 typhoon signal for nearly 11 hours.
Authorities received reports of 1,224 fallen trees, 22 flooding incidents and four landslides.