Which Typhoons Have Had the Most Severe Impact on Hong Kong in History?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · District of Typhoon · 更新 at 2026-07-23
The Most Severe Typhoons to Impact Hong Kong in History
1. "Old Typhoons" of the First Half of the 20th Century
In the first half of the 20th century, due to limited meteorological monitoring capabilities and weak defense infrastructure, typhoon disasters in Hong Kong often resulted in significant casualties. The most representative example is a powerful typhoon in 1937, which remains one of the deadliest wind disasters on record for Hong Kong. The storm brought gale-force winds, heavy rain, and a severe storm surge, capsizing numerous vessels and inundating low-lying coastal areas. Public historical records indicate that the death toll was approximately 10,000.
Another notable event was Typhoon "Wanda" in 1962. Wanda approached the Pearl River Estuary as a severe typhoon, ranking among the strongest storms to hit Hong Kong after World War II. The Hong Kong Observatory hoisted the No. 10 Hurricane Signal (commonly known as the "No. 10 Typhoon Signal"), which remained in effect for nearly two days. The storm surge triggered by Wanda caused severe flooding in low-lying coastal areas, leading to building collapses and the destruction of farmland.
This article is typhoonsay's original copy content, and the local policy standards are based on the local government's latest release.