Cold snap expected for Hong Kong this weekend

Hongkongers are bracing for a chilly weekend, with urban areas forecasted to experience lows around 10 degrees Celsius on Sunday, according to the Hong Kong Observatory on Thursday.

An intense winter monsoon is set to reach the southern coast of China on Friday morning, leading to a significant drop in temperatures. 

“The weather will be cold in the morning and at night over the region, and very cold over inland areas over the weekend,” the Observatory said. 

Urban temperatures are expected to dip to 13 degrees on Friday, falling to 11 degrees on Saturday under fine and dry conditions. 

Sunday will see temperatures further decrease to 10 degrees in urban areas, coinciding with the Standard Chartered Marathon -- marking the coldest conditions in the event's last three editions.

The New Territories and highland areas will face even harsher conditions, with lows dropping below 8°C in locations such as Tai Po, Sheung Shui, and Sha Tin.

This cold spell is expected to persist into Monday morning, after which temperatures will rebound slightly as the monsoon is replaced by an easterly airstream. 

Mid-next week, the coast of Guangdong may experience relatively humid conditions with one or two rain patches.

(Ayra Wang)