Cold weather warning in force, as Hong Kong prepares for a wintry week

After cruising through a somewhat mild spell, Hong Kong’s temperatures are plunging once again, with single-digit lows expected throughout the week.

The cold spell is being caused by an “intense winter monsoon,” which is bringing chilly conditions to the coast of Guangdong, predicted to last throughout the week, according to the Observatory.

As such, the Observatory has issued a cold weather warning, expected to last over the next few days.

Urging residents to bundle up and ventilate their homes, the weather service warns of exposure to the elements can be dangerous.

High ground, they add, will be blustery, meaning the wind chill factor will compound already low temperatures.

Families should also be vigilant in assuring elderly residents and those with medical considers should are well cared for.

As of midday, weather stations on Hong Kong Island showed air temperatures hovering around 11 to 12 degrees Celsius.

The Observatory’s headquarters, over on Kowloon, was 11.4, while further north in the New Territories, the thermometers registered single digits — about 8 degrees in both Tuen Mun and Tai Po and 6.1 degrees at the elevated station of Tai Mo Shan.

Residents can expect the weather to remain “cloudy to overcast with one or two rain patches.”

“It will be cold,” the observatory warns, with “moderate to fresh northerly winds.”

The weather service predicts lows of 9 degrees and maximum temperatures of 12 degrees for both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The expected minimum will dip to 8 degrees on Thursday. Temperatures are to increase slightly on Friday and Saturday, before another cold Sunday.