The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has stated at 2105 hours on Friday (18 July) that Tropical Storm Wipha will enter within 800 kilometres of Hong Kong around midnight. At 2200 hours, it was centred about 550 kilometres north-northeast of Manila.

Tropical Storm Wipha is forecast to move northwest or west-northwest at about 22 kilometres per hour across the vicinity of Luzon Strait and intensify gradually. Following are the latest updates;

• The Observatory will issue the Standby Signal, No. 1 in the small hours of Saturday (19 July). Wipha is expected to intensify progressively and edge closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Saturday and Sunday (19-20 July).
• Winds will strengthen gradually later on Saturday (19 July). Showers will be heavy with squally thunderstorms. The Observatory will consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 during the day on Saturday (19 July).
• Wipha will be rather close to the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary on Sunday (20 July) and there will be heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Seas will be very rough with swells. The public has been advised to stay away from the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.
• Depending on the distance between Wipha and the Pearl River Estuary, the intensity of Wipha and the change in local winds, the Observatory will assess, on Saturday afternoon (19 July), the need of issuing higher tropical cyclone warning signals on early Sunday (20 July).