Cold spell to chill Hong Kong in winter solstice, Christmas, as mercury expected to drop to 10 degrees on Friday
“It will be dry. The minimum temperatures on the winter solstice will be around 10 degrees in the urban areas, and a few degrees lower in the New Territories.”
The winter solstice, or dong zhi, marks the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere.
In the Chinese lunar calendar, it usually means being in the “extreme of winter” and signifies a turning point for longer days to come.
According to Chinese tradition, the day is typically celebrated with family by eating glutinous rice balls, or tang yuan, which symbolise prosperity and unity on the darkest day of the year.
Hong Kong Observatory issues first cold weather warning for winter
The forecaster issued a cold weather warning on Wednesday, expecting moderate to fresh northerly winds, which will be occasionally strong offshore.
The temperature during the winter solstice on Friday will range from 10 to 15 degrees, while it will vary between 12 and 18 degrees on Christmas Day on Monday.
“People are advised to put on warm clothes and ensure adequate indoor ventilation,” the forecaster said.
“If you know of elderly people or people with chronic medical conditions staying alone, please call or visit them occasionally to check if they need any assistance.”
It also advised the public to inspect their heaters before using and place them away from any combustibles, while warning against lighting fires indoors.
The weather is expected to be mainly temperate over the coastal areas of southern China early next week. A moderating winter monsoon is likely to slightly push temperatures up midweek.
Hong Kong to warm up before mercury drops to 12 degrees by midweek: Observatory
According to the nine-day weather forecast, the mercury will range from 14 to 21 degrees between Tuesday and Friday next week.
Hong Kong recorded the coldest day of the year in 2023 on January 29, when the mercury fell to 9.8 degrees.
The forecaster earlier said winter temperatures in the city showed a significant long-term upwards trend because of climate warming. It forecast that the city was likely to experience fewer cold days – when the mercury dropped to 12 degrees or below – this winter compared with the previous two years, when 13 were recorded each year.