Report on Severe Typhoon Podul (2511)
Severe Typhoon Podul (2511)
7 to 15 August 2025
Podul was the fifth tropical cyclone affecting Hong Kong in 2025.
Podul formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 620 km north-northeast of Guam in the small hours of 7 August, and tracked northwestwards to west-northwestwards, while gradually intensifying. Podul turned to move generally westwards towards the seas east of the Luzon Strait on 9 – 12 August. It rapidly intensified into a severe typhoon, attaining its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 155 km/h in the small hours of 13 August, before making landfall over Taiwan. Podul turned to move west-northwestwards rapidly across the southern part of Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait that day. It made landfall again in Zhangpu of Fujian in the small hours of 14 August, and rapidly weakened into a tropical storm. Podul finally moved into inland areas, and degenerated into an area of low pressure over Guangxi in the small hours of the next day.
According to press reports, during the passage of Podul over Taiwan, a 24-hour rainfall of 644.5 millimetres was recorded in Dahan Shan of Pingtung. Podul caused one death, one missing and 149 injuries in Taiwan. Water and electricity supplies to more than 6 600 and 310 000 households were disrupted respectively. Economic loss exceeded USD 17 million. Air traffic in Taiwan was also affected, with more than 380 flights cancelled. Podul also caused two deaths and affected more than 290 000 people in Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan and other provinces in China. Under the influence of the outer rainbands of Podul, an hourly rainfall of 110.0 millimetres was recorded at Ka Ho of Macau on 14 August, and flooding occurred in many areas of Taipa and Coloane.
The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 8:40 a.m. on 13 August, when Podul was about 800 km east of Hong Kong. Local winds were moderate to fresh west to southwesterlies that day. But under the influence of severe squally thunderstorms associated with Podul, winds over parts of the territory occasionally reached strong force the next morning. Podul came closest to Hong Kong at around 11 a.m. on 14 August, skirting past about 230 km north of the territory. With Podul departing from Hong Kong and weakening, it no longer posed a threat to Hong Kong and all tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 12:20 p.m. on 14 August.
Podul did not cause any significant damage when it affected Hong Kong. Under the influence of Podul, a maximum sea level of 2.58 m (above chart datum) was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui and a maximum storm surge of 0.21 m (above astronomical tide) was recorded at Tai Po Kau. At the Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1001.8 hPa was recorded at 5:24 a.m. on 14 August.
Under the influence of Podul’s outer subsiding air, the weather in Hong Kong was mainly fine apart from isolated showers on 13 August. It was also extremely hot in the afternoon. Under the influence of Podul’s band of intense thundery showers, it turned overcast with heavy showers and severe squally thunderstorms in Hong Kong on 14 August. More than 100 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places, and rainfall even exceeded 200 millimetres over Lantau Island, Tuen Mun and parts of Hong Kong Island. The incessant downpour that morning necessitated the issuance of the Black Rainstorm Warning for the fifth time in 2025, breaking the highest annual number record since the Rainstorm Warning System commenced operation in 1992.