Storm Pabuk edged into southern China yesterday, bringing strong winds and rain that shut Hong Kong's stock market and schools as it skirted the special administrative region.

Meanwhile, Tropical storm Wutip headed into Fujian Province, generating a weather system that should give Shanghai cooler weather over the weekend.

Pabuk, named after a large freshwater fish in Laos, earlier crossed the strait between Taiwan and the Philippines.

It triggered landslides that killed 11 people in the Philippines and disrupted power supplies in southern Taiwan.

The storm then headed west to Hong Kong, passing the city before changing direction sharply to head northeast toward the Chinese mainland.

No casualties or damage were immediately reported, but the Hong Kong Observatory issued a high-level storm warning yesterday as winds gusted up to 111 kilometers per hour.

The government ordered schools closed, and the local stock market stopped trading just 15 minutes into the afternoon session.

Residents left work early, resulting in long lines for public transportation.

The storm also spoiled the plans of soccer fans gearing up for an exhibition match between Barcelona and a local team. The match was rescheduled for today.

Last night, the city's Home Affairs Department opened 26 temporary shelters.

The eighth tropical storm of this year, Wutip, which means butterfly in Cantonese, hit Fujian Province in east China late yesterday with winds up to 72 kilometers per hour.

Though the storm will not strike Shanghai directly, clouds from its perimeter will shroud local skies.

The mercury may drop to 29 degrees during the day this weekend, the city weather bureau said.

Shanghai is entering the late stage of this year's flood season, which means the potential for more rain and typhoons.

At least two tropical storms were forecast to influence the weather in Shanghai later this month, said meteorologist Dong Rong.

The weather bureau has forecast a drier August this year, with about 10 rainy days, two less than usual.

(Shanghai Daily August 12, 2007)