A typhoon signal tells you what the wind is doing, not whether to carry an umbrella. The Hong Kong Observatory’s page on the considerations for issuing tropical cyclone warning signals gives each signal a definition. This sheet puts those wind speeds into knots and a Beaufort force using the Met Office’s Beaufort scale bands, then adds a carry decision for each. The wind definitions are the Observatory’s; the conversions and the carry column are our reading. Xzvzx and Calm Eden are commonly owned.
The signals, as the Observatory defines them
| Signal | Observatory definition | Sustained wind | About, in knots (our arithmetic) | Beaufort force (our reading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1, Standby | A tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may affect the territory | None stated | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| No. 3, Strong Wind | Strong wind is blowing or expected to blow generally near sea level | 41 to 62 km/h, gusts which may exceed 110 km/h | 22 to 33, gusts about 59 | 6 to 7 sustained, gusts reach 11 |
| No. 8, Gale or Storm (NW, SW, NE or SE) | Gale or storm force wind is blowing or expected to blow | 63 to 117 km/h, gusts which may exceed 180 km/h | 34 to 63, gusts about 97 | 8 to 11 sustained, gusts above 12 |
| No. 9, Increasing Gale or Storm | Gale or storm force wind is increasing or expected to increase significantly in strength | Not stated separately | Not stated | Not stated |
| No. 10, Hurricane | Hurricane force wind is blowing or expected to blow | 118 km/h or above, gusts which may exceed 220 km/h | 64 or more, gusts about 119 | 12 |
To convert, divide km/h by 1.852 to get knots, then find the knots in the Met Office table. The Met Office gives force 6 as 22 to 27 knots, 7 as 28 to 33, 8 as 34 to 40, 11 as 56 to 63 and 12 as 64 or more. The Observatory’s signals are its own scheme and do not map one to one onto Beaufort forces.
The carry decision, signal by signal
- No. 1. There is no wind threshold, only a cyclone within about 800 kilometres. Carry the umbrella as on any day, and read the forecast gusts as you would for any wind warning.
- No. 3. The sustained band starts at force 6. Our umbrella wind speed chart quotes the National Weather Service land scale, which describes force 6, 25 to 31 mph, as the point where umbrellas are used with difficulty. A No. 3 day sits on or above that line, so our reading is a hood or a short, sheltered walk, and the umbrella for the lulls.
- No. 8. Sustained wind in the gale to violent storm range, with gusts that can pass 180 km/h. No umbrella is built for that. The Observatory says public safety is the paramount consideration, and our reading is that the umbrella is not part of the decision: be where you are going to stay.
- No. 9 and No. 10. The same answer, with stronger wind.
Three things the page does not say
- It does not say how long a signal lasts, or when the next one will be issued.
- It says nothing about public transport, shops or flights, apart from a note that flight operations do not necessarily relate directly to the signals.
- It says the Observatory aims to give enough notice where it can, so a signal may go up before the weather has worsened. Do not wait for the wind to turn.
Packing for a typhoon-season trip
If you are travelling in the season, the useful thing is a compact that is light enough to leave in a day bag for the showers on either side of a storm, and a plan for the days it is not safe to be out. Our Japan trip planner works the same way for rainy-season dates, and Calm Eden’s South Korea guide covers typhoon timing there.
Where the Haven Umbrella fits
Calm Eden’s Haven Umbrella is described as storm-proof, and we have no outside wind test of it, so we would not give it a signal or a force. What the listing says is concrete: 30 carbon fibre ribs, a fold to 40 cm / 15.75 in, a weight near 390 g and a canopy about 105 cm across when open. It is a one-adult compact and nothing on this sheet makes it a typhoon umbrella. Every order includes a Haven Cover and the Wellness Journal (digital); Buy 2 Get 1 Free adds the UV Charm and the Rain Poncho, and Buy 3 Get 2 Free also adds the Haven SPF 50+ Silk Square Scarf.
Sources: Hong Kong Observatory, Considerations for Issuing Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals; Met Office, Beaufort scale. Both read on 6 November 2026.
Common questions
What wind speed does Hong Kong's No. 3 signal mean?
The Hong Kong Observatory says No. 3, the Strong Wind Signal, means a sustained wind of 41 to 62 km/h near sea level, with gusts that may exceed 110 km/h. That is about 22 to 33 knots, so roughly force 6 to 7 on the Met Office scale, by our arithmetic.
Can I use an umbrella under a No. 8 signal?
The Observatory defines No. 8 as a sustained wind of 63 to 117 km/h, with gusts that may exceed 180 km/h. That is a gale to violent storm on the Beaufort scale. The Observatory says public safety is the paramount consideration, so our reading is to leave the umbrella in the bag and stay indoors.
What does a No. 1 signal mean?
The Observatory says a tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 kilometres of Hong Kong and may affect the territory. No wind threshold is attached, so it is a planning signal rather than a reason to leave the umbrella at home.
What is the No. 10 signal?
The Hurricane Signal: a sustained wind of 118 km/h or above, with gusts that may exceed 220 km/h. That converts to about 64 knots, the start of force 12.
Does a rainstorm warning follow the same signals?
No. The tropical cyclone signals are wind-based. The Observatory's separate rainstorm warnings are not covered on the page this sheet is built on, so check them separately.