Hong Kong cooks after record-breaking hottest year since 1884, Observatory says
- The annual average temperature for 2021 was 24.6 degrees Celsius, 1 degree higher than figures for past 20 years
- Experts warn of global warming impact on rising heat levels, concerns for city’s most vulnerable residents
Hong Kong last year experienced its warmest year since records began in 1884, with 11 months of 2021 being warmer than usual, according to an annual summary from the weather forecaster.
The annual average temperature for 2021 was 24.6 degrees Celsius (76.28 Fahrenheit), a single degree increase from the past 20 years, the Observatory said on Friday.
Last year’s average maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees and minimum temperature of 22.6 degrees were the highest on record.
March, May and September were particularly scorching months for the city, with the hottest temperature reported on May 23 reaching 36.1 degrees, the joint third-highest on record.
Previously, 2015 and 2019 held joint place as the city’s warmest autumns, with the average temperature for both years reaching 26.1 degrees.
The lowest temperature recorded last year was on January 8, one of only 13 cold days identified by the Observatory, when the mercury fell to just 7.7 degrees. Last year, Hong Kong also experienced 54 “very hot” days, smashing the previous record of 47 set in 2020.