Signal No. 8 in Hong Kong as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears

Published on Sep 23, 2025, 7:59 am CDT

6 min read

Hong Kong has raised Signal No. 8 as Super Typhoon Ragasa tracks toward the Pearl River Delta, prompting citywide closures and broad transport shutdowns. Airport Authority Hong Kong said Hong Kong International Airport will remain operational, but expects "significant disruption" from 6:00 p.m. on September 23 through September 24. Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, and Greater Bay Airlines have pre-canceled large portions of their schedules, while some foreign carriers have scrubbed flights and repositioned aircraft. Macau, Shenzhen, and multiple Guangdong coastal cities suspended schools, some ferries, and parts of public transport ahead of the closest approach late tonight into Wednesday.

Key Points

Why it matters: Signal No. 8 triggers widespread shutdowns, with heavy impacts to flights and ferries.
Travel impact: HKIA open with limited operations, mass cancellations, and multi-carrier change-fee waivers.
What's next: HKO will assess higher signals between 1100 p.m. and 300 a.m., with morning peak impacts.

Snapshot

The Hong Kong Observatory hoisted the No. 8 Northwest Gale or Storm Signal at 220 p.m. on September 23, noting winds may strengthen and that higher signals could be considered between 1100 p.m. and 300 a.m. on September 24. Airport Authority Hong Kong expects significant disruption to flight operations from 600 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday. Carriers have already cut hundreds of flights, with Cathay Pacific canceling large numbers, HK Express and Hong Kong Airlines scaling back, and Greater Bay Airlines issuing rolling updates. Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport plans to suspend flight operations from 8:00 p.m. on September 23. Across Macau and Guangdong, authorities have closed schools, halted selected ferries, and warned of storm surge during the warning-change window. For wider regional context, see Super Typhoon Ragasa slams Luzon, upends regional travel.

Background

Ragasa intensified over the northern South China Sea after lashing the northern Philippines, then advanced toward the Pearl River Delta. Hong Kong authorities signaled a likely escalation to Signal No. 8 on September 23 and urged the public to complete essential trips early. The Hong Kong Observatory's tropical cyclone bulletins placed Ragasa roughly a few hundred kilometers southeast of the city on Tuesday evening, with the closest approach expected on Wednesday morning. Guangdong raised its top-level typhoon alert and paused portions of public transport and ferry services. Macau announced storm surge warnings and indicated Signal No. 8 timing in the late afternoon, with bridge and ferry constraints. As is standard under Signal No. 8, many Hong Kong services, including numerous ferries and some port operations, pause until the warning is lowered.

Latest Developments

HKIA stays open, but most flights are pulled after 6 p.m. Sept. 23

Airport Authority Hong Kong said Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) will remain operational, while warning of major disruption from 600 p.m. on September 23 through September 24. Airlines have pre-canceled waves of flights, trimmed schedules, and parked aircraft off-station to avoid trapping crews. Local media tallied several hundred cancellations across the Hong Kong-based carriers, and international airlines, including Qantas and Emirates, announced suspensions on Hong Kong and Shenzhen routes during the peak impact. The Hong Kong Observatory confirmed Signal No. 8 at 220 p.m., with Ragasa's closest approach expected on the morning of September 24. The agency said it will consider higher signals between 1100 p.m. and 300 a.m., depending on track and local winds. Travelers should expect extended knock-on effects through Thursday as aircraft and crews are repositioned.

Exact carrier waivers you can use today

Cathay Pacific: For flights to or from HKG with departures on September 23-25, tickets issued on or before September 21 qualify for one-time rebooking, rerouting, or refund with charges waived. Tickets must be changed by September 25, with new travel completed by December 15. Fare or tax differences may apply. Hong Kong Airlines: All HKG flights departing September 23-25 are covered for tickets issued on or before September 20. One change is permitted with fees waived if changed by September 25, with travel completed by November 30. No-show fees are not waived; full refunds use the "Special Reason Refund" path. Greater Bay Airlines: Special ticketing applies for departures September 23-25. Rebook within seven days of original dates, with new travel within ten days. Passengers scheduled September 24 may request a refund within fourteen days of the original date. HK Express: The carrier posted a travel alert indicating adjustments due to Ragasa. Customers should review the carrier's Important Travel Alerts page for current options and affected flights.

Ferries, bridge, and ports during the warning change window

Hong Kong-Macau ferries: TurboJET suspended Mainland China routes and said Hong Kong-Macau services would run only until last sailings on September 22, with further adjustments as weather worsens. Cotai Water Jet states all sailings suspend when Signal No. 8 is hoisted. Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge: Macau authorities announced closure to traffic at 300 p.m. on September 23 as conditions escalated. **Pearl River Delta ferries** Guangdong reported suspensions across over one hundred ferry routes as coastal cities enacted storm plans. Port operations: A leading shipping advisory reported Hong Kong port operations suspended during Ragasa's peak, consistent with Signal No. 8 precautions and pilotage limits. Expect resumption to track warning downgrades and sea state improvements.

Analysis

For travelers, the critical window runs from early Tuesday evening through at least midday Wednesday, when winds, crosswinds, and gusts complicate ground handling and runway use at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Even with the airport technically open, flight movements drop sharply as airlines consolidate banks, retime long-hauls, and protect aircraft from exposure. The waiver rules provide the fastest path to certainty, and the deadlines are tight, so same-day action matters. Regional knock-ons spread quickly, especially to Macao International Airport (MFM) and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX), given crew and airframe rotations through Hong Kong. Ferry suspensions remove the usual redundancy between Hong Kong, Macau, and western Guangdong, while the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge closure cuts a key road link. Port suspensions add supply-chain friction, though these typically recover on a staggered basis once signals fall below No. 8. If the Observatory escalates signals overnight, Wednesday morning recovery slows further. Plan for multi-day normalization and protect buffers on onward trips.

Final Thoughts

If your itinerary touches Hong Kong between September 23 and 25, use airline apps now to rebook under waivers and avoid airport lines. Defer cross-estuary travel, since ferries and the bridge are constrained under Signal No. 8. As warnings ease, expect ferries and port operations to return first on more sheltered corridors, then flights ramp up as winds drop and crews reset. Continue monitoring official bulletins for any shift to higher signals, then a gradual downgrade, and keep your plans flexible around Super Typhoon Ragasa.