Hail and heavy rain batter HK:Over 100mm of rainfall an hr, flooding several districts

HAILSTONES the size of golf balls battered several areas of Hong Kong on Sunday night causing widespread damage.

It also forced the Hong Kong Observatory(香港天文台) to hoist the first black storm warning of the year.

Although this was lowered after two hours, the damage was heavy with torrents of rain falling through broken window panes at Festival Walk (又一城) in Kowloon Tong (九龍塘).

Elsewhere, more than 20 containers collapsed at Kwai Chung (葵涌) terminal while scores of trees were uprooted. Several areas were flooded, especially the northwest New Territories (新界西北) where farmers said crops were ruined by the rain.

The amber rainstorm warning was raised at 7.45pm before intensifying to red at 8.15pm. Shortly after 8.30pm the black signal was raised together with a warning that rainfall in excess of 100mm an hour was expected in several areas.

By 8pm, Yuen Long (元朗), Tuen Mun (屯門) and Wong Tai Sin (黃大仙) all reported heavy rain and flooding. Hail hit Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long, Tsing Yi (青衣), Tsuen Wan (荃灣), Tuen Mun, Kowloon Tong and North District (北區).

At Tsz Wan Shan (慈雲山) the hailstorm lasted for more than fi ve minutes. At Sham Tseng (深井), Lok Fu (樂富) and San Po Kong (新蒲崗), the hailstones measured about 3cm in diameter.