Hong Kong residents bundled up Tuesday as temperatures plunged to a chilly 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit), the lowest of the season so far, prompting health warnings for vulnerable populations.
An intense northeast monsoon sweeping across the Guangdong coast brought a sharp drop in temperatures Tuesday morning, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Districts including Tai Po, Tuen Mun, and Sha Tin experienced even colder temperatures than the city average.
The sudden chill prompted residents to layer up against the unexpected cold. “It’s very cold. It’s much colder than I expected,” one man told public broadcaster RTHK, adding that while he found the weather pleasant, he was taking precautions. “I’ve got to make sure I’m wearing two to three layers,” he said.
Others were less enthusiastic about the cooler weather. “I don’t like this,” one woman said. “I feel more comfortable with warmer weather.”
The Centre for Health Protection issued a public reminder urging residents, particularly the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, to take extra care in the cold. “Elderly people have less insulating fat beneath their skin to keep them warm, and their body temperature control mechanisms may be weaker,” a spokesman explained. “Their body may not be able to appropriately respond to the cold weather.”
