Satellite data and products are indispensable for monitoring hazardous weather phenomena. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), as the meteorological authority in Hong Kong, makes extensive use of meteorological satellite data and products in the provision of weather forecasting and warning services for the general public, the aviation community, the marine community, Government Departments and other users.

Apart from direct received imagery for monitoring of tropical cyclone, rainstorm, fog and haze, a number of tailor-made satellite derived products on deep convection, dust storm, volcanic ash and etc., have been developed to support weather services and other users' demands. Meanwhile, with a view to arousing public awareness of natural disasters, HKO makes available at its website and various mobile platforms (e.g., iPhone, Android, PDA, etc.) the real-time weather information including satellite images.

This paper will discuss how HKO uses geostationary satellites such as FY-2 and MTSAT as well as polar orbiting satellites such as ASCAT to support its weather forecasting activities such as tracking the movement and evolution of tropical cyclones; uses of the deep convection products, volcanic eruption and sandstorm products to assist aviation forecasters in issuing SIGMET to enhance flight safety; ingestion of ATOVS data in high resolution numerical models for severe weather nowcasting and forecasting. As there are a number of new meteorological satellites, e.g. Korea COMS, Chinese FY-3 series and European MetOp series satellites, launched or to be launched in the coming years, HKO will continue to explore the potential uses of these new meteorological satellites for improving its delivery of weather forecast and severe weather warning services for the benefits of local public as well as the aviation community. These activities will also be briefly discussed in this paper.