Report on Super Typhoon Doksuri (2305)

Doksuri was the second tropical cyclone affecting Hong Kong in 2023.

Doksuri formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 270 km east of Manila on the night of 20 July. It moved north-northwestwards and intensified gradually. Doksuri intensified into a typhoon on the night of 23 July and tracked northwestwards. It developed further into a super typhoon next night and attained its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 210 km/h near its centre on the morning of 25 July. Doksuri moved across Luzon Strait that night and the next morning, and turned to move north-northwestwards. During its passage across the northeastern part of the South China Sea, Doksuri once weakened into a severe typhoon on the night of 26 July but re-intensified into a super typhoon next night. Doksuri made landfall near Jinjiang of Fujian province on the morning on 28 July. It moved into inland and weakened further that day. It finally degenerated into an area of low pressure over Anhui the next morning.

According to press reports, Doksuri left at least 25 deaths and 52 injuries in the Philippines during its passage. Over 2.45 million people were affected, over 41 000 houses were damaged and economic loss exceeded PHP 5.4 billion. In Fujian province, more than 2.66 million people were affected and economic loss exceeded RMB 14.7 billion. Besides, affected by the remnant of Doksuri, torrential rain wreaked havoc in many provinces and cities in East China, North China and Northeast China during 29 July – 1 August. In Beijing, some areas recorded maximum cumulative rainfall of more than 1 000 millimeters, causing 33 deaths, 18 missing and 1.29 million people affected.

The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 8:40 p.m. on the night of 26 July, when Doksuri was about 730 km east-southeast of Hong Kong. Local winds were moderate to fresh north to northwesterlies, occasionally strong offshore and on high ground that night and the next day. Doksuri came closest to the territory at around 2 a.m. on 28 July, when it skirted past about 500 km east of Hong Kong. The lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 995.2 hPa was recorded at the Observatory Headquarters at 5:28 a.m. on that day. As Doksuri made landfall near Jinjiang of Fujian province and weakened, it no longer posed a threat to Hong Kong and all tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 12:40 p.m. on 28 July.

During the passage of Doksuri, a maximum sea level (above chart datum) of 2.52 m was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui, while a maximum storm surge of 0.48 m (above astronomical tide) was recorded at Tai Po Kau.

Doksuri had no major impact on Hong Kong and no significant damage was reported. Under the influence of the outer subsiding air associated with Doksuri, local weather was generally fine and extremely hot on 26 – 27 July. The oppressive heat also triggered squally thunderstorms on the evening of 27 July. The weather remained very hot with sunny periods and isolated showers on 28 July.