Sudden midday downpour hits Hong Kong, with rainy conditions expected into next week
- Forecaster issues first amber rainstorm warning of year at 1pm, lasting one hour, with some residents caught off guard by showers
- Temperature expected to reach maximum of 31 degrees Celsius, with warm and rainy conditions set to last into to next week
Thunder and showers hit Hong Kong at lunch time on Thursday, as the Observatory issued its first amber rainstorm warning of the year.
The alert was issued at 1pm and lasted one hour, indicating heavy rain of 30mm (1.2 inches) an hour had been recorded, mostly in the eastern part of the city and areas of the New Territories.
Some were caught off guard by the sudden midday downpour, without umbrellas or raincoats, as they rushed for shelter.
Many Hongkongers had headed to work earlier in the day when the weather was sunny.
The Observatory added members of the public should be “on the alert” for widespread heavy rain by midday.
Hong Kong will be mainly cloudy and hot during the day with a maximum temperature of about 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
The forecaster also warned earlier that thunderstorms were expected to hit the city.
The Observatory said rain and hot weather during the daytime were expected over the coastal areas of Guangdong in the next couple of days.
Hongkongers wake up to damp buildings, slippery floors as humidity hits 100%
A trough of low pressure will bring “unsettled weather” to southern China, with occasional heavy showers and squally thunderstorms as it edges closer to coastal areas early next week.
The forecaster said the conditions would continue through to midweek.
Temperatures in the city for the coming nine days are expected to range between 24 and 31 degrees.
