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Ernest Kao

Get ready for the big chill next week when temperatures will plunge to single digits – but don’t get excited by unofficial weather forecasts predicting snow, the Hong Kong Observatory says.
It was quick to dismiss internet speculation of 1cm of snow this weekend, clarifying instead that a cold surge expected to reach southern China on Thursday would trigger a chilly spell. 
Temperatures will drop to about nine degrees Celsius on Sunday and next Monday.
Rumours of snow were sparked by the unofficial Hong Kong Weather Information Centre website, citing a 10-day prediction on weather-forecast.com, which makes automated forecasts based on modelling data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the US-based Global Forecast System.
READ MORE: First January amber rainstorm warning issued
It also cited weather maps from Weather Underground, a commercial online service.
News outlets began reporting the news yesterday, prompting further speculation across social media. But the Observatory’s nine-day weather forecast has all but ended any hopes of snow.
Scientific officer Lau Po-wing said their analysis – which looks at ECMWF data in addition to computer modelling from several countries – suggested the possibility of snow was “very low”.
Certain conditions were needed for snow to form, including ground and lower atmosphere temperatures, humidity and precipitation forming mechanisms, Lau explained.
“Our forecast shows there won’t even be rain [next] Sunday or Monday ... and the weather might even be sunny or fine.”
As unlikely as it may sound in sub-tropical Hong Kong, there have been local reports of snowfall four times since the second world war, with the last one in 1975 on Tai Mo Shan. But Lau said the technology available at the time made it hard to confirm whether it was snow or frost and ice. “Physically, it is possible. But the chance of snow is very low.”
Frost does appear occasionally on Tai Mo Shan, the city’s highest peak, where temperatures can drop to near freezing point during cold spells in the winter.
READ MORE: Cold feet – 13,000 Hong Kong Marathon entrants fail to show up, but wet and windy weather can’t dampen spirits for the rest
Professor Lam Chiu-ying, a former Observatory chief, also had his doubts. Lam suggested government forecasts were more credible and urged the public “not to blatantly believe whatever they saw on the internet”.
That said, temperatures will see a steep drop next week. The Centre for Health Protection has issued a notice for the public, particularly the elderly, to take precautions during the cold spell.


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No Caption Available.

Temperatures are set to drop this weekend. Photo: SCMP

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The Observatory issued the amber warning at 2pm on Tuesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Cold feet: 13,000 Hong Kong Marathon entrants fail to show up, but wet and windy weather can’t dampen spirits for the rest

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Runners brave the cold and rain at the Hong Kong Marathon 2016. 17JAN16 SCMP/ Felix Wong

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Hundreds of runners pass along Nathan Road in Mong Kok during yesterday’s Hong Kong Marathon. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Hong Kong Observatory says temperatures will plummet to single digits
