Ta Kwu Ling records -1.2°C as frost blankets cars and farmland

Hong Kong experienced a bitterly cold morning on Friday (Jan 9) as temperatures plunged under the influence of a strong winter monsoon and radiative cooling, with frost appearing in several inland areas of the New Territories.

In Ta Kwu Ling, some locations recorded temperatures as low as -1.2°C. Open-air car parks and farmland were coated in silvery ice crystals, while vehicles along Sha Tau Kok Road were covered in thick frost.

Similar scenes were reported in Ping Che, where ice crystals formed on leafy vegetables in open fields. A reporter at the scene from Singtao Headline, the sister publication of The Standard, recorded temperatures close to freezing.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued frost and cold weather warnings on Friday morning, saying clear skies and light winds had intensified overnight cooling. Temperatures in parts of the New Territories fell below 7°C, while urban areas ranged between 11°C and 13°C.

The Observatory lifted the cold weather warning at 11.00am.

A Red Fire Danger Warning remains in force, and residents have been urged to stay warm and take fire safety precautions.