Better wrap up - it's going to be even colder today

Marcus Lum

The weather will be even colder today during Winter Solstice - when most people mark the onset of winter - after Hong Kong saw the mercury drop to seven degrees Celsius yesterday.

The observatory said urban areas will see a low of eight degrees, but the New Territories will be severely cold - generally two to three degrees lower.

And with strong winds, the wind chill effects will be significant, making it feel colder than the actual temperature, it added.

The observatory recorded a low of 9.8 degrees in urban areas yesterday. Tai Mo Shan recorded the lowest temperature of 0.3 degrees in the early hours.

Ta Kwu Ling, Sheung Shui, Tai Po and Lau Fau Shan recorded seven degrees, while in Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon City and Tuen Mun it was eight degrees.

Temperatures will remain low across Hong Kong in the next few days.

In the coming two to three days, including Christmas Eve, the weather will continue to be cold and dry in the mornings and evenings, with lows of 10 degrees and a few degrees lower in the New Territories.

"The winter monsoon will continue to bring cold and dry weather to the coastal areas of southern China in the next few days," the observatory said.

But temperatures will rise gradually mid-next week with the monsoon moderating, it said.

The temperature on December 26 will reach 20 degrees during the hottest period, while the lowest temperature will be 14 degrees - two degrees higher than the previous day.

However, it will remain cold in the New Territories, observatory said, urging the public to stay warm and take care of the elderly and chronically ill patients.

The Centre for Health Protection urged the elderly and chronically ill patients to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure.

The Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters in various districts for people in need. They will remain open as long as the cold weather warning is in force.

The Labour Department suggested workers working outdoors or in remote areas to wear appropriate clothing and seek medical help if they feel unwell.

Meanwhile, regions in Japan and South Korea are affected by the cold wave and heavy snow.

In Rikubetsu, Hokkaido, the weather had dropped to minus-24 degrees, setting the lowest temperature record for all of Japan this winter.

In South Korea, an emergency heavy snow warning was issued in several areas, including the coast of south Chungcheong province and the western region of Jeolla province.

marcus.lum@singtaonewscorp.com