Hong Kong may have dodged a bullet

The latest forecast for Typhoon Chanchu looks a lot better than it did yesterday. The storm was only briefly a super typhoon, and has now weakened somewhat with 140 mph winds. The storm should continue to slowly lose intensity as it moves north over the next two and a half days, and make landfall as a Category 3 storm. In addition, it looks to be taking a slightly more easterly track, which would put Hong Kong in the northwest quadrant of the storm, where the winds will be somewhat lower than the northeast quadrant. The impact is likely to still be major, but not catastrophic.

UPDATE: Chanchu has weakened a little further, with 130 mph winds at present. It is likely to lose more strength over the next two days, and make landfall as a Category 2 storm. The expected track keeps bending further eastward, and Hong Kong is now only on the very edge of the potential landfall zone. It looks as though the danger to the city has passed.