Hong Kong is set to experience its chilliest Mother’s Day in nearly a quarter of a century this Sunday, with temperatures expected to drop sharply due to an approaching cold front.

The Hong Kong Observatory forecasts a dramatic cooldown, with the mercury plunging from a daytime high of 31 degrees to around 23 degrees by evening and further dropping to 19 degrees by early Sunday morning—potentially the coldest Mother’s Day since 2000.

According to the weather watchdog, a cold front from inland Guangdong is moving southward and is expected to reach coastal areas by tonight. Meanwhile, thunderstorms are affecting the northern part of the South China Sea and the Guangdong coast.

The weather tonight will be mostly cloudy with intermittent showers, possibly accompanied by squalls and thunderstorms.

Conditions are expected to improve slightly tomorrow, with showers tapering off in the afternoon and brief sunny spells, though temperatures will remain cool with a high of around 25 degrees. Winds will start light but strengthen from the north overnight, accelerating the temperature drop.

If urban areas do indeed dip to 19 degrees, it would surpass the previous record of 20.2 degrees set in 2023, making it the coldest Mother’s Day this century.

Historical data shows that the lowest temperature recorded on Mother’s Day was 17.9 degrees in 1901, while in 1999, the temperature fell to 18.6 degrees. The observatory’s automatic regional weather forecast indicates that several New Territories districts, including Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, and Sha Tin, could see lows of 18 degrees, with Ta Kwu Ling potentially dropping to 17 degrees.

Urban areas such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Wong Chuk Hang may also hover around 19 degrees, compounded by northerly winds of force 4 to 5, gusting to force 6 in offshore and highland areas. Residents planning outdoor celebrations are advised to dress warmly.

The cold snap, however, will be short-lived. The Observatory predicts a rapid rebound in temperatures starting Monday, with mostly sunny and dry conditions and a high of 28 degrees. From Tuesday to Wednesday, the weather will remain partly sunny, with temperatures climbing to 29–30 degrees. By Thursday, the heat will intensify further, reaching up to 31 degrees, though scattered showers may return.

Hong Kong braces for coldest Mother’s Day in 25 Years as temperatures plummet