Hong Kong hits 38°C as Tropical Cyclone Dolphin triggers heatwave
HKFP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Temperatures exceeded 38 degrees Celsius in some parts of Hong Kong on Saturday as Tropical Cyclone Dolphin brought a severe heatwave to the territory. The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) warned that the storm's outer subsiding air will continue to bring extremely hot weather for the next couple of days, with some areas reaching 37 degrees or above. A southwesterly airstream is expected to bring rain and cooler temperatures by Wednesday .
Key Points
- Tropical Cyclone Dolphin is moving towards Zhejiang and northern Fujian, causing its outer subsiding air to bring extreme heat to Hong Kong .
- Temperatures exceeded 38°C in some areas on Saturday, with 37°C or above expected to persist until midweek .
- A southwesterly airstream will affect Guangdong's coast by Wednesday, bringing rain and ending the heatwave .
- The HKO previously warned that record-breaking high temperatures may occur in 2024 and 2025 due to climate change and a forecast 'super-strong' El Niño event .
- Hong Kong has already warmed by 1.7°C since the Industrial Revolution, according to research by Berkeley Earth .
Why It Matters
This heatwave exemplifies the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme heat events that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has linked to human-caused climate change since the 1950s. A 2023 study warned that heat and humidity in Hong Kong may reach lethal levels for extended periods by the end of the century, potentially making outdoor conditions uninhabitable .
This heatwave exemplifies the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme heat events that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has linked to human-caused climate change since the 1950s. A 2023 study warned that heat and humidity in Hong Kong may reach lethal levels for extended periods by the end of the century, potentially making outdoor conditions uninhabitable .