The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Friday afternoon after residents were advised to prepare for severe thunderstorms. The warning was the lowest level of its three-tiered system.

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Friday afternoon, after earlier telling residents to brace for hail and violent gusts as severe thunderstorms approached the city. The forecaster sent out the lowest rainstorm warning of its three-tiered system at 4.35pm on Friday. Less than an hour earlier, it issued several special weather tips....