HONG KONG — Sweltering heat gripped Hong Kong on Saturday as outer subsiding air from Severe Typhoon Dolphin pushed temperatures toward record highs across the territory, triggering government safety advisories and the official Amber Heat Stress at Work Warning.
The Hong Kong Observatory forecast urban temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, with localized readings in parts of the New Territories soaring to 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher. High humidity levels pushed heat indices even further, making conditions feel closer to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) during peak afternoon hours.
Meteorologists attributed the intense heat wave to sinking air currents associated with Severe Typhoon Dolphin as the storm tracked across the East China Sea toward the Ryukyu Islands and eastern China. The atmospheric downdrafts prevent cloud formation and trap intense thermal energy over coastal Guangdong.
The Labour Department maintained its Amber Heat Stress at Work Warning on Saturday, urging site managers, construction companies, and outdoor employers to institute mandatory rest breaks every hour and supply adequate shade and hydration. Under the city’s heat stress guidelines, prolonged outdoor physical labor under an Amber alert carries a heightened risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Health authorities advised residents, particularly the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, to limit outdoor activities and remain in well-ventilated or air-conditioned environments.
While conditions remained largely fine and sunny through the morning, forecasters warned that extreme surface heating could trigger localized afternoon thundery showers and scattered squalls across the territory before the hot weather pattern gradually eases midweek.
