Hong Kong officials issue third cold weather warning as intense winter monsoon brings the chill
Temperatures in the city plunged to 8 degrees on Tuesday, though sunnier skies beckon later in the week
Temperatures in most parts of Hong Kong dropped to 8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, prompting weather officials to issue their third cold weather warning this year.
The warning was issued at 6am on Tuesday morning as temperatures dropped several degrees from Monday’s readings. The mercury plunged to around 8 degrees in the rural New Territories and 10 degrees in urban Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
The Hong Kong Observatory said an intense winter monsoon was bringing cold weather to the coastal areas of Guangdong. Temperatures on Tuesday afternoon lingered at about 8 to 10 degrees.
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The Observatory said the weather would remain cloudy and cold for Tuesday before it became slightly warmer with sunny periods on Thursday and Friday.
But the mercury is predicted to drop again to 10 degrees during the weekend when a dry replenishment of the monsoon would affect the city, according to the Observatory.
Hong Kong experienced its coldest day in 59 years last week, with temperatures plunging to 3 degrees in urban areas and below zero in elevated zones. Primary school and kindergarten classes were suspended, and more than 60 people – mostly trail runners and curious hikers eager to see frost on the peaks – were sent to hospital.
