The Hong Kong Observatory issued its third frost warning in as many days on Friday, with cool and dry weather expected to continue over the weekend.
Ground frost was likely to occur on Saturday morning in isolated areas of the New Territories, the forecaster said. Similar warnings were issued on Wednesday and Thursday but were lifted the following mornings.
“The northeast monsoon will continue to bring generally fine and very dry weather to the coast of southern China in the next couple of days,” the forecaster said. “It will be rather cool in the morning over the region, and cold over inland areas.”
Temperatures will be as low as 14 degrees (57.2 Fahrenheit) on Saturday and Sunday before rising over the course of next week, according to the forecast.
Hong Kong experienced near frigid temperatures on Friday. Ta Kwu Ling in the New Territories recorded a low of 2 degrees, while Tai Lung near Sheung Shui registered 3.8 degrees.
Other areas with low temperatures included Pak Tam Chung at 4.1 degrees, Shek Kong at 5.5 degrees, Tai Mo Shan at 6.2 degrees, Tate’s Cairn at 6.9 degrees, Yuen Long at 7.1 degrees, Happy Valley and Wong Chuk Hang at 9.1 degrees, and The Peak at 9.6 degrees.
At 8.15am, the Observatory cancelled the frost warning issued on Thursday afternoon, while a cold weather alert issued at 6am was cancelled five hours later.
A red fire danger warning remains in force, indicating an extreme fire risk. The forecaster said relative humidity could drop to as low as 25 per cent, bringing very dry weather.
On Thursday, the humidity in the city dropped to the lowest level ever recorded for January, with relative humidity plunging to 17 per cent.
Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, also warned that the winter flu season was approaching amid the cold weather, urging residents to get vaccinated if they had not done so already.
“Temperatures are changing and the winter flu season could arrive very soon, but whether it will begin precisely at the end of January or the beginning of February is hard to tell,” Tsui said, adding that it typically occurred between January and March. -- South China Morning Post
