Tropical cyclone brings extremely hot weather to Hong Kong, with potential T8 on the weekend
The outer subsiding air of the tropical cyclone is bringing very hot weather to our vicinity over the next couple of days. Temperatures across Hong Kong are extremely hot today, July 17, with the thermostat reaching a high of 35 degrees Celsius in urban areas, and a couple of degrees higher in the New Territories. HKO issued a Very Hot Weather Warning this morning and warned that there will be prolonged heat. The Home Affairs Department has also opened temporary heat shelters for people to take refuge from the scorching weather, and these 19 venues across the territories will remain open as long as the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.
High temperatures will persist into the weekend, with the mercury reaching 34 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday. Heavy showers triggered by high temperatures will affect Hong Kong starting from Saturday, and the tropical cyclone is expected to bring squally showers and thunderstorms from Sunday into the early part of next week. HKO will consider issuing the T3 signal during the day on Saturday.
It is also forecast to be very windy on Sunday and Monday, with winds expected to reach up to force eight offshore and on high ground. On the Beaufort Wind Scale, force eight is categorised under gale force winds, which is the threshold for hoisting a T8 signal. However, whether or not there will actually be a signal-eight typhoon over the weekend remains to be seen, as the weather watchdog notes that there are still uncertainties in the tropical cyclone's movement and intensity.
What's for certain, though, is that we will all need our electric fans and umbrellas ready to go over the next few days. Keep an eye on the weather forecast on .
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