As summer’s grip finally begins to loosen, Hong Kong residents are in for a whirlwind of weather this week, with a sudden drop in temperatures promising a touch of autumn on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Observatory forecasts a dip to a cool 22 degrees Celsius (72°F), a stark contrast to the blistering heat that has gripped the city. Wednesday is expected to see a weekly record high of 34°C (93°F), with clear skies and intense sunshine beating down throughout the day.
The scorching conditions are being driven by an outer subsiding air mass associated with Tropical Cyclone Krathon, which is poised to cross the Luzon Strait and strengthen over the next few days as it heads towards the East China Sea and the vicinity of Taiwan.
But the respite from the heat will be short-lived. As the tropical cyclone moves away, a fresh to strong northeast monsoon is expected to reach Guangdong province on Tuesday, ushering in a return to warmer weather by next Monday, with temperatures climbing back up to at least 25°C (77°F) during the day.
“On National Day, the weather will be mainly fine and very hot. Winds will strengthen from the north gradually,” the forecaster warned.
In the meantime, residents can expect a slightly cooler start and end to their days, with a notable temperature gap between daytime and nighttime. Moderate to strong winds offshore and on high ground are also anticipated on Wednesday and Thursday.
Looking ahead, an easterly airstream is set to affect the Guangdong coast early next week, while a broad trough of low pressure brings showers to the central and southern parts of the South China Sea.
