For current, up to date Typhoon Level warnings for Macau and Hong Kong from the Hong Kong Observatory please visit:

(Update 07/09 – New Link for Typhoone Warnings in Macau:
http://www.smg.gov.mo/www/cvm/typhoon/fe_typhoonmain.htm ) 

http://www.smg.gov.mo/e_index.php

(Chinese TV report of Typhoon Level 8 “Neoguri” that hit Macau on April 20, 2008.

My first level 8 typhoon warning. Yipee! Reminds me of the hurricanes when I lived in Miami (hurricane parties are the best).

Friday, April 18 2008 – The Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) yesterday issued a tropical cyclone warning for typhoon ‘Neoguri’, the earliest period at which such warnings have ever been issued.

Previous Typhoon Prapiroon from August 2, 2006

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYAT_8lGAKo

With the signal No. 1 being hoisted at 6:am yesterday morning, the warning forecasted strong rain and winds ad was heading toward Sanya City, in southern Hainan.

The signal at No. 1 showed that the centre of the tropical cyclone was less than 800 kilometres by 5:00 pm last evening from Macau and could later affect the peninsula.
It was packing winds of up to 126 kilometres per hour.

The Bureau said the centre of the typhoon would move north-westward at a speed of 15 km per hour and may hit the southern coast of Hainan this afternoon or tomorrow morning, or skim over the offshore areas.

The Bureau urged ships and boats to return to shore and local residents to take precautions against the typhoon.

Neoguri, the first tropical storm to hit this year, was formed in the South China Sea on Tuesday. It strengthened into a typhoon on Wednesday afternoon.

Last year two typhoons were identified, one in August and the other in September.
The former had signals hoisted till No. 3 while the latter only reached the No.1 signal.
Historical data for typhoons from the Bureau has been published only since 1968, the earliest such data has been recorded.

April 23 had previously been the earliest record of a typhoon heading towards Macau, which occurred in 1978.

Since the conception of such data, the Bureau has recorded a total of four typhoons that have had the No. 10 signal hoisted, the highest signal possible.

For the No. 1 signal, safety recommendations include checking the safety of objects which might be carried or destroyed by the winds such as fences, scaffoldings, flower pots, antennae (aerials ). Residents are advised to keep boats and small crafts in the nearby shelters.

MACAU TYPHOON WARNING SYSTEM

There is a risk of typhoons, mainly between July and September. A system of typhoon warnings is in place that are issued by the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau [12] and are broadcast widely on television and radio:

The typhoon warning system is basically a copy of the system used in Hong Kong.

* Number 1: tropical cyclone is within 800km of Macau
* Number 3: tropical cyclone is likely to bring winds of 41-62 km/h to Macau, with gusts of 110km/h (usually issued when the typhoon is within 300km of Macau)
* Number 8: tropical cyclone is nearing Macau, bringing with it winds of 63-117 km/h, and gusts of up to 180 km/h
* Number 9: the centre of the tropical cyclone is approaching Macau and it is expected that Macau will be severely affected
* Number 10: the centre of the tropical cyclone will hit Macau directly, with mean wind speed over 118 km/h and intense gusts

During a number 8, 9 or 10 typhoon everything in Macau shuts down (all schools, all government departments, and the large majority of work places and shops). People stay home and it is not advisable to venture outside as there is the risk of injury or worse from flying debris.

Here is my personal “Conrad update” post that I’ll keep stickied on the top of my blog until our Cirque show opens. Click the “Read the rest of this entry” link to read current status, or the rest of the blog for tidbits on our new Cirque Du Soleil adventure in Macau, China. Sorry, no details posted about the show until after Grand Opening.

For my Cirque and Macau friends here is a link for Macau Real Time Typhoon Status:
http://www.smg.gov.mo/e_index.php

Purchase ZAIA Tickets Online

2008

• Starting September 2008 – Running shows
• August 29 – Grand Opening!
• July 26 – Soft opening of show and grand Cirque party!
• July 25 – Official Dress Rehearsal
• July 13 – Second “Lion’s Den” with Guy LaLiberte. Friends and family only.
• July 6 – First “Lion’s Den” with Guy LaLiberte. Friends and family only.
• May 29 – Press conference and live performance excerpts for media. Name of our show is ZAIA. Read my post at Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA and also visit the Official Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA page.
• April 14 – Rehearsals resume in China at the new theater in the Sands Venetian.
• March 23 (Easter) – Whole troupe flies to Macau China! First three weeks we have off to find apartments and get settled. Then it’s serious rehearsal time to get the show on it’s feet.
• January 26 – Arrived in Montreal, Canada at Cirque Du Soleil headquarters to begin rehearsals for the “Macau I” show to open at the Sands Venetian in Macau, China fall of 2008.
• January 5 – Departure delayed three weeks.

ZAIA PRESS CONFERENCE – May 29, 2008 from Macau, China

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpYMbFbSlKY

ZAIA OFFICIAL CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TRAILER

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IquF826T2M

DESTINATION MACAU VIDEO REPORT – ZAIA

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0lDbLBhkg

05/30/08 – Hong Kong Daily Apple newspaper article and photo
(Click for full size)

FAVORITE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE:

Let Me Fall – bungee from Saltimbanco
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=aOhb7uc8IGU
Cirque Du Soleil “Bungee” from the Saltimbanco spectacular, performed to Josh Groban’s collaboration for Cirque, “Let Me Fall” By Me. This is my favorite CDS video.
The Let Me Fall video captures to me the intangible beauty that Cirque Du Soleil is all about.

Mystere promo video
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=FlrsvPb8zF0

Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba – Acrobacia
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=U7tfyVbyD08

Cirque Du Soleil “O” video
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=lYaLLX_bF7c

Clip from Cirque Du Soleil’s 25th Anniversary
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=oKGBkc77sDw

Power Track act from Allegria
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=eP6AJXprOXc

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=wdj-LC8jx7c

Quidam excerpt
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=TJNDPNIJDQY

Allegria – Cirque Du Soleil midnight sun
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=y8YjtozRX1o

Corteo cast 2006 behind the scenes
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=plhyxlxu1ns

Casting for Cirque Du Soleil
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=GKhh3vCmS7w

CDS – The Fire Within – The Making of a Cirque Show
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=mpjd4nKH9zI

Nightshift visits Cirque Du Soleil
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=2EXsMiZ_PNE

FAVORITE MACAU RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEOS:

An Introduction to Macau
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=eFY6OcF4NvQ

Destination Macau – The Macau Sands Venetian
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=1RN7WxA0uX8

Destination Macau – The Cotai Strip
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=tAJ0mRyBVv0

“This will be the most comprehensive, the broadest hospitality entertainment complex that has ever existed”

University Students Climb the Macau Tower

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=mWdSZS4yLSo

Top graphic is a Cirque Du Soleil show promo. Opening Summer 2008 at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel.