After an out of season warm beginning to December, Hong Kong is bracing for a dramatic cooldown next weekend as a strong winter cold front moves south across China, the Hong Kong Observatory said Monday.
The leading edge of the cold air is expected to reach the city on Saturday, Dec. 13, accompanied by brisk northerly winds and scattered light rain. Temperatures are forecast to plummet through the day, falling from a daytime high of around 22 degrees Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) to an overnight low of 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) — an 8-degree drop in less than 24 hours.
Sunday, Dec. 14, will be markedly colder, with the citywide minimum dipping to about 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) and the daytime high struggling to reach 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit).
Rural parts of the New Territories will experience the most intense chill. Locations such as Ta Kwu Ling and Shek Kong could see morning temperatures as low as 11 degrees Celsius (52 Fahrenheit) on Sunday — a 14-degree plunge from Friday’s expected highs of 24-25 degrees Celsius (75-77 Fahrenheit) in urban areas.
Most of the New Territories is likely to record early-morning readings of 13-14 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Before the front arrives, the coming days will remain dry and pleasantly warm under a moderating northeast monsoon. Tuesday and Wednesday will be occasionally cloudy with isolated light showers and temperatures ranging from 19 to 23 degrees Celsius (66 to 73 Fahrenheit). A brief return to warmer conditions is expected Thursday and Friday, with highs climbing back into the low to mid-20s Celsius.
A tropical cyclone currently east of the Philippines is projected to track across the central and southern portions of the country over the next day or two before weakening over the South China Sea, posing no direct threat to Hong Kong. However, an extensive cloud band associated with the system is expected to spread across the Guangdong coast by mid-to-late next week, resulting in mainly overcast skies as the colder air arrives.
The Observatory urged residents to prepare for the sudden change, particularly those in rural and exposed areas where the cold will feel most severe.
