Editorial | Wild weather demands preparedness from Hong Kong

These extremes – from subtropical warm spells to polar chills – highlight a warming world with increasingly unpredictable weather, demanding stronger action and preparedness from authorities.

Hong Kong Observatory data shows the mean monthly temperature for February hitting 20.1 degrees Celsius (68.2 degrees Fahrenheit), three degrees above normal and the second highest on record for the month. Combined with December temperatures well above normal and warmer-than-usual January weather, this yielded the warmest winter since records began in 1884, averaging 19.3 degrees, two degrees above normal. Only five cold days occurred, tying for the third lowest total on record.

From record downpours to frequent summer heat alerts, extreme weather has seemingly become the norm in Hong Kong, not the exception. The impact of blurring seasonal lines goes beyond wardrobe adjustments; it exposes policymakers to increasingly erratic weather patterns that demand robust preparedness.

Shifting from reaction to foresight is the first line of defence. The onslaught of super typhoons and rainstorms in recent years has exposed gaps in infrastructure and emergency responses, while surging hot-weather alerts reflect global warming, fuelled by carbon emissions and urban design flaws. Enhanced policies with smarter planning, advanced tech such as artificial intelligence-driven forecasts and green infrastructure are essential to mitigate intensifying extremes and safeguard the city.