Hong Kong is expected to experience cooler weather over the next few days, with temperatures predicted to drop as low as 11 degrees Celsius (51.8 Fahrenheit) due to a winter monsoon and a widening gap in daily temperature readings.
Senior scientific officer Tong Yu-fai of the Hong Kong Observatory stated on Tuesday that this cold weather is likely to persist for a relatively extended period.
“Under the influence of the winter monsoon, cold air from northern and middle China will drift south, affecting Hong Kong,” he said. “Since the monsoon’s influence is expected to persist, cold air will continue affecting us.”
Tong also said that at the Observatory’s Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters, the mercury dipped to 11.8 degrees in the morning, while the New Territories recorded lower temperatures of 10 to 11 degrees.
Looking ahead, morning temperatures were expected to remain steady over the next two days, although they might hit 11 degrees on Wednesday, Tong said.
He added that as the monsoon eased over the weekend and early next week, the morning temperatures in urban areas would rebound to 13–14 degrees.
The forecaster issued a cold weather warning at 4.20pm on Monday, less than two days after cancelling the previous one on January 3. A strong monsoon alert followed at 8.10pm, signalling winds exceeding 40km/h (24.8mph).
The weather will also be very dry in the coming days, leading to larger daily temperature swings, Tong said.
“Although the mercury may reach 18 to 19 degrees in the afternoon, it will drop sharply after sunset,” he said.
Tong said Hong Kong might see above-average temperatures from January to March due to “broader climate conditions” and global warming.
“Despite this, the day-to-day weather and temperature volatility can still be significant, with bouts of cold weather,” he said.
Tong also urged residents to watch chronic disease patients closely during the cold spell and take fire safety precautions when using warming equipment.
Family doctor Lam Wing-wo also called on people to pay greater attention to their health in the chilly weather.
He added that residents might suffer respiratory and digestive illnesses in such weather, as cold and dry conditions weakened immunity.
“Heartbeat and blood pressure can also deviate from normal levels during cold spells,” he said. “Those with mild cardiovascular symptoms risk acute episodes or strokes.”
He also called on such residents to seek medical help if they lost bodily control.
Hong Kong saw a milder-than-usual December, with no cold weather warnings issued in November or that month, the first time since the system began operating in 1999.
