Hong Kong is on track to experience its warmest Chinese New Year’s Eve in 73 years, with maximum temperatures forecasted to reach up to 31 degrees Celsius in parts of the New Territories.
According to the Observatory, the wind in Guandong region is mild. The weather will be partly cloudy during the early morning and evening, warm during the day, with light to moderate easterly winds.
The forecastor recorded a maximum temperature of 26.9 degrees Celsius at 4pm, tying the highest temperature ever recorded for the 28th day of the last lunar month.
New Year’s Eve (Feb 16) is expected to be more humid in the morning and evening, with daytime warmth. The maximum temperature in urban areas is forecasted to be around 27 degrees, while it could be a few degrees higher in the New Territories.
According to the latest 9-day weather forecast, temperatures will range between 21 and 26 degrees, with Sheung Shui expected to reach 31 degrees in the afternoon, and both Ta Kwu Ling and Shek Kong likely to hit 30 degrees.
The previous record for the warmest New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong was set in 1953 at 27.8 degrees. Since then, only a handful of years have seen temperatures reach 26 degrees or above.
The most recent was in 2019, when the city recorded 25.5 degrees.
If the forecast holds and temperatures climb to 26 degrees or higher, this year will mark the warmest New Year’s Eve since 1953—a 73-year record.
However, the record warmth may not last. The Observatory forecasts that a northeast monsoon with moderate to strong winds will sweep across the southern coast starting Monday night and into Chinese New Year Day, bringing increased cloud cover and possible showers.
Light rain and strong winds are expected, with slightly cooler temperatures. The mornings of the second and third days of the lunar new year will be cooler.
