Report on Severe Tropical Storm Wutip (2501)
Severe Tropical Storm Wutip (2501)
10 to 15 June 2025
Wutip was the first tropical cyclone forming over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in 2025 and also the first tropical cyclone affecting Hong Kong in 2025.
Wutip formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 280 km southeast of Xisha on the night of 10 June. It moved generally west-northwestwards towards the seas south of Hainan Island and intensified gradually the next day. Wutip intensified into a severe tropical storm on the night of 12 June. It attained its peak intensity in Beibu Wan on the morning of 13 June, with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 110 km/h near its centre. Wutip gradually turned to track north-northeastwards that day and made landfall over Dongfang of Hainan Island that night. After skirting across the western coast of Hainan Island, Wutip entered Beibu Wan again the next day and made landfall again over Zhanjiang of Guangdong around noon. It then moved into inland areas of southern China and weakened gradually. Wutip finally degenerated into an area of low pressure on the evening of 15 June.
According to press reports, Wutip brought torrential rain to the central part of Vietnam, triggering flooding that resulted in nine deaths, two missing, and more than 3 500 houses affected. Maximum 6-hour rainfall of 319.4 millimetres and 72-hour rainfall of 1 203 millimetres were recorded over the region. Wutip also brought very heavy rain and squalls to Hainan, Guangxi and Guangdong, causing flooding and landslides that led to seven deaths and an estimated direct economic loss of RMB 1.81 billion. During Wutip’s passage across the vicinity of the Guangdong-Guangxi boundary, a 24-hour rainfall of 401.5 millimetres was recorded at Yulin in Guangxi.
The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 12:40 a.m. on 11 June when Wutip was about 770 km south of Hong Kong. Local winds were moderate to fresh easterlies, occasionally strong offshore and on high ground on 11 – 13 June. After making landfall over Zhanjiang of Guangdong, Wutip moved across the vicinity of the Guangdong-Guangxi boundary. As strong winds associated with Wutip were expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary gradually, the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal was issued at 12:20 p.m. on 14 June when Wutip was about 490 km west-southwest of Hong Kong. Local winds were generally strong south to southwesterlies and occasionally reached gale force on high ground in the afternoon and the next morning. Wutip came closest to Hong Kong at around 5 a.m. on 15 June, skirting past about 290 km northwest of the territory. With Wutip departing from Hong Kong and further weakening, all tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 3:40 p.m. on 15 June. However, under the influence of the southwesterly airstream to the south of Wutip, strong winds were still affecting parts of the territory. The Strong Monsoon Signal was issued thereafter and lasted till 9:00 p.m. that night.
Wutip did not cause any significant damage in Hong Kong during its passage. Under the influence of Wutip, a maximum sea level of 2.99 m (above chart datum) was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui and a maximum storm surge of 0.54 m (above astronomical tide) was recorded at Tai Po Kau. At the Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1002.8 hPa was recorded at 5:06 p.m. on 11 June.
The local weather was mainly fine and extremely hot on 10 June, with the maximum temperature at the Observatory soaring to 35.6 degrees, levelling the record maximum for June since records began in 1884. Under the influence of the outer rainbands of Wutip, there were occasional squally showers in Hong Kong on 11 – 15 June. Showers were heavy with more than 30 millimetres of rainfall recorded over most parts of the territory on 13 June.