- The Observatory sent out the warning as temperatures were forecast to reach at least 33 degrees Celsius in the city
- The past two years have been among the hottest on record, and meteorologists expect this trend to continue
Seek shade and stay hydrated - it's a hot one. Photo: SCMP / Felix WongIn case you were still wondering: yup, summer is here. The Hong Kong Observatory issued its first “very hot weather” warning of the year on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 33 degrees Celsius in urban areas and higher still in the New Territories.
The warning was sent at 6.45am, cautioning residents to be aware of the risk of heatstroke. By 9am, multiple districts including Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City had seen temperatures above 30 degrees, while Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po had hit 33 degrees.
The very hot weather warning is issued when temperatures are expected to reach at least 33 degrees.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) also urged members of the public to stay hydrated, particularly if you have to spend time outdoors.
“Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea ... as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” a CHP spokesman said.
It is also important to take extra care if you or your family members have health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, as these conditions can make it more likely for you to become ill
18 weather words you might not know, from drizzle to smog
The Observatory expects the weather to be persistently hot over the next few days, with maximum temperatures of 32 degrees or higher.
Earlier this year, Hong Kong meteorologists predicted this summer could for the third year in a row be among the hottest on record, with a strong chance 2021’s annual average temperature could place it among the top 10 hottest years since records began in 1884.
Last year, the city experienced 47 “very hot” days, with temperatures at 33 degrees or above, the most ever recorded.