Sudden midday downpour hits Hong Kong, with rainy conditions expected into next week

Forecaster issues first amber rainstorm warning of year at 1pm, lasting one hour, with some residents caught off guard by showers

Temperature expected to reach maximum of 31 degrees Celsius, with warm and rainy conditions set to last into to next week

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Children brave the wind and rain at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. The Observatory issued the first amber rainstorm warning of the year at 1pm on Thursday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 10:13am, 18 Apr 2024Updated: 3:42pm, 18 Apr 2024

Thunder and showers hit Hong Kong at lunch time on Thursday, as the Observatory issued its first amber rainstorm warning of the year.

The alert was issued at 1pm and lasted one hour, indicating heavy rain of 30mm (1.2 inches) an hour had been recorded, mostly in the eastern part of the city and areas of the New Territories.

Some were caught off guard by the sudden midday downpour, without umbrellas or raincoats, as they rushed for shelter.

Many Hongkongers had headed to work earlier in the day when the weather was sunny.

The forecaster issued two special weather notices earlier in the morning and said a band of intense thunder, wind and heavy showers over western Guangdong province was gradually moving eastward.

Windy conditions at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Residents were warned to be be “on the alert”. Photo: Jelly Tse

The Observatory added members of the public should be “on the alert” for widespread heavy rain by midday.