Soaring temperatures sparked the Observatory’s first “very hot” weather warning of 2018 today, as the mercury topped 32 degrees Celsius in parts of the city.
The weather service cancelled the warning as of 2:15pm, though it remains about 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Kowloon and the New Territories.
The Observatory recorded a temperature of 32.8 degrees Celsius just after midday, with 57 percent humidity and a mean UV Index set at the “high” level of 7.
Temperatures in some parts of the New Territories topped 34 degrees Celsius in the morning.
It was the earliest very hot weather warning issued since the system was introduced in 2000, RTHK reported.
The warnings — which serve to caution people about potential health effects — are issued generally when temperatures higher than 30 degrees Celsius combine with high humidity and solar radiation and a lack of wind.
Last year, the first “very hot” warning came on on June 3, when the temperature reached 32.1 degrees Celsius.
Previously, the earliest such warning was issued in 2011 in mid May.
Describing the current weather conditions, it noted a fresh to strong easterly airstream was affecting the coast of Guangdong.
It added that there would be isolated showers throughout the day with windier conditions expected tomorrow.
The temperature looks set to stay between 23 and 29 for most of next week, with at least six consecutive days of showers expected following a sunny weekend.
The Observatory last year recorded 29 “very hot” days — where the temperature reached or surpassed 33 degrees Celsius — it’s six highest count of record.
The hottest maximum temperature, meanwhile, was recorded on August 22, when the mercury hit 36.6, the highest since records began.
