Hong Kong Observatory logs second hottest July day on record at 35.6 degrees Celsius and says heat to continue
- Observatory warns rest of month will be very hot with temperatures reaching 35 degrees or above early next week
- Authorities are monitoring MTR rail network and airport runways, but say no problems have arisen
Hong Kong experienced its hottest day of the year so far on Friday after a top temperature of more than 35 degrees Celsius was logged at the Observatory, making it the second highest July temperature on record.
The Observatory recorded 35.6 degrees Celsius (96 degrees Fahrenheit) at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 4.30pm, and forecasters said the heat would continue for the rest of the month.
Areas in the New Territories experienced even higher temperatures, with Sheung Shui sweltering at 38.1 degrees Celsius, Ta Kwu Ling hitting 37.9 degrees and Tai Lung registering 37.7 degrees.
Residents in urban areas also felt the heat after Wong Tai Sin hit 37.3 degrees, Kowloon City recorded 36.8 degrees and Sham Shui Po reached 35.9 degrees.
The Observatory said the weather was fine over southern China because of the dominance of a subtropical ridge and that the day’s minimum temperature would be about 28 degrees.
Forecasters predicted that Saturday would be sunny and very hot during the day with light to moderate southwesterly winds.