1, 3 then 8

A couple of days ago my secretary S. chatted me up on the weather.

She says, "Jo-nah, hopefully we don't work tomorrow. Rain very strong. If, typhoon number 8, then we don't work."

I say, "That's great, S., but it's only typhoon signal 3 now. There's still quite a ways to go."

S: No! After 3 is 8.

J: What?

S: It's 1, 3 then 8. No 4-5-6-7! 1, 3 and then 8!

And they say the Chinese are good in math.