Those who have been wishing for a hot summer this year may get more than they bargained for.
The Hong Kong Observatory has predicted more severe climate conditions for this summer as a result of global warming and the El Nino effect, with an increase of heat waves and hot spells in store.
“Climate change is here and now. Positive actions should be taken without any further delay,” said the director of the observatory Shun Chi-ming in a press briefing yesterday.
The observatory warned Hongkongers to be ready to sweat even more than is standard as the number of hot days increase.
In addition, you might want to start auctioning off your winter wear, as the number of days in which the temperature falls to 12°C or below may go down to just one day within the 21st century.
Awww, no more cold weather warnings.
The observatory has recorded steady increases in Hong Kong’s average temperature.
From 1885 to 2014, each decade saw an average increase of 0.12°C. That rate increased in the later part of the century, with average increase recorded at 0.16°C from 1985 to 2014.
Shun also warned Hong Kong citizens to prepare for some mighty typhoons this summer, as the observatory expects up to seven to make landfall.
Fingers crossed they’re all T8s!
In addition, the meteorologists believe that flooding and water surges caused by storms will be more prevalent in the coming decades as water levels continue to rise by up to 1.7 metres.
Good job none of us just spent a fortune on a waterfront property, isn’t it?
Photo: Molly Mazilu via Flickr
