Weather watch: The Hong Kong Observatory has launched a weather buoy on Tai Tam Bay to gather meteorological data for the East Asian Games windsurfing event.

The Hong Kong Observatory will provide real-time weather information, forecasts and warnings for next month's 2009 East Asian Games, including venue-specific observations and forecasts for the windsurfing event on Tai Tam Bay.

It has launched a weather buoy mounted with observation instruments on the bay and will use a computer to provide forecasts. On each competition day the observatory will conduct a weather briefing via videoconference with organisers and participants on the latest weather situation and forecast.

The observatory's assistant director Wai Hon-gor told reporters today, unlike the Olympic equestrian events last year, the East Asian Games are being held in winter so the risk of severe weather is greatly reduced.

"However, windy conditions caused by intense winter monsoons and the occasional thunderstorm may still be disruptive to outdoor events such as windsurfing which is very weather-sensitive both in terms of event organisation and the race operation itself," he said.

The observatory will closely monitor the general weather situation for all outdoor venues through a network of automatic weather stations across the city.  Dedicated telephone lines have been established for the games organisers and government departments to maintain close contact.

From November 27 to December 14 weather information and forecasts for the games can be obtained from this website.