Hong Kong’s record for hot nights in a year over 28 degrees already smashed by September with 45 – most since records began in 1884
- September 13 hit 33 degrees, making it the hottest Mid-Autumn Festival ever recorded
- Last month also had 26 per cent more sunshine and 60 per cent less rainfall – with experts pointing to climate change
Hong Kong has already had more hot nights in 2019 than at any time since records began in 1884, according to the city’s climate and weather watchdog.
September was especially warm and dry, with seven consecutive hot nights starting on September 7.
Last month also had 216 hours of sunshine, which is 26 per cent higher than normal, and 60 per cent less rainfall, with just 19.8cm recorded. September’s mean temperature was 28.7 degrees, a full degree higher than usual, and the hottest day was September 12, which hit 33.5 degrees.
At the end of August, city meteorologists forecast that Hong Kong would experience “normal to above normal” temperatures and “normal to below normal” rainfall between September and November.
“Under the influence of global warming and local urbanisation, autumn temperatures in Hong Kong exhibit a significant long-term rising trend,” the observatory said at the time.
