bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Sum Lok-kei

This winter’s unseasonably warm Christmas period came amid the fourth hottest December in the city on record, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
A mean minimum temperature of 17.6 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded last month – which was 1.7 degrees warmer than the normal figure of 15.9 degrees.
The hottest December was in 1968, when 21.3 degrees was recorded.
Dr Law Hiu-fai, a scientific officer at the Observatory, said the warm temperature had been expected because of the El Niño effect.
“In October and November, the temperature of the Pacific Ocean near the equator was getting warmer, it was expected that the El Niño would affect Hong Kong,” Law said.

The El Niño refers to a climate pattern that involves a slight warming of sea surface temperatures over the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean every few years, because of a slackening of prevailing winds across it.
Under these conditions, Law said the temperature in Hong Kong would be normal or warmer.
Law said a replenishment northeast monsoon will arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, bringing cooler weather.
The hottest day of the month was December 4, when the mercury peaked at 27.1 degrees, and the daily temperature averaged 24.8 degrees.
The temperature was eventually brought down by the northeast monsoon on December 7, but it climbed again 12 days later after Hong Kong was hit with a relatively warm and humid maritime airstream.

On December 22, Hong Kong’s daily temperature averaged 22.2 degrees, making it the hottest Winter Solstice ever recorded.
“A weaker than usual monsoon over southern China made Hong Kong unseasonably warm last month,” the observatory said.
In a summary of the weather in December, the forecaster said the mean temperature was the sixth highest recorded in the month, and 1.3 degrees above normal.
Apart from being warmer than usual, the observatory said December was also drier, with a total rainfall of just 11.9 millimetres – down from the usual 26.8 millimetres.
Cold snap continues with 10 more sent to hospital – but warmer weather on way
The cold only settled in after an intense winter monsoon washed over the city at the end of month, and a cold weather warning was issued on December 28.
A cold snap hit town after Christmas, when the daily average temperature dropped to 10.3 degrees on December 30 – the coldest day of the month.
During the chilly weather, a 90-year-old woman died from hypothermia, and at least 32 patients were sent to hospital between December 30 to January 1.
Conditions improved on Wednesday, and on Thursday, the average temperature was 17 degrees.
The mercury is expected to hit 20 degrees on Friday.


Temperature in Hong Kong to drop to 14 degrees and remain cool till midweek

Chilly weekend ahead for Hong Kong as temperatures set to hit 15 degrees

Hong Kong registers a low of 13.2 degrees Celsius, coldest so far this autumn

Hong Kong registers low of 13.2 degrees Celsius, coldest so far this autumn

Hong Kong weather

You’re right, it didn’t feel a lot like Christmas in Hong Kong, December was the fourth hottest on record

People dress in thick winter clothing on a cold day as temperature drops hit Hong Kong on the last days of December. Photo taken in Tsim Sha Tsui. 29DEC18 SCMP / Winson Wong

Friends take a selfie on Christmas Eve at Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Hong Kong Observatory said mean minimum temperature was 17.6 degrees Celsius
Forecasters put unseasonably warm weather down to El Niño


Hong Kong Observatory said mean minimum temperature was 17.6 degrees Celsius, and forecasters put unseasonably warm weather down to El Niño.


You’re right, it didn’t feel a lot like Christmas in Hong Kong, December was the fourth hottest on record

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Hong Kong Observatory said mean minimum temperature was 17.6 degrees Celsius Forecasters put unseasonably warm weather down to El Niño

Hong Kong Observatory said mean minimum temperature was 17.6 degrees Celsius

Forecasters put unseasonably warm weather down to El Niño