bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Denise Tsang

Lauren Chan

Hong Kong is already in the grip of a heatwave, but if Friday was particularly sweltering it was because parts of the city experienced the hottest “Great Heat” day in 44 years.
“Great Heat” is a term from the traditional Chinese calendar for the day, usually at the end of July, that marks the hottest time of the year.

The average temperature surged to 32.9 degrees Celsius on Friday, but the mercury in some districts such as Sheung Shui and Tai Po soared above 35 degrees.
Hong Kong Observatory scientific officer Lau Po-wing linked the heatwave to a subtropical ridge bringing fine weather to southern China, with strong sunshine keeping temperatures high.
He forecast the heatwave would continue and the mercury would hover at 33 degrees on Saturday and 34 degrees on Sunday. The New Territories would see hotter conditions.
“The very hot warning is in force and will be effective over the weekend,” Lau said.
The hottest “Great Heat” day was recorded in 1972, at 34.7 degrees. The second hottest was in 1968, at 33.6 degrees.
The earliest available records on “Great Heat” are from 1947.
Friday’s highest average temperature, at 32.9 degrees, meant it was the sixth-hottest “Great Heat” day on record, the Observatory said.



Across the city, Hongkongers were doing what they could to beat the heat.
A 70-year-old hawker selling smartphone cases in Causeway Bay was trying to stay cool by munching on a big juicy chunk of watermelon. “I feel a lot more comfortable now,” he said.
A steady stream of passers-by flocked to an ice cream truck parked outside the Causeway Bay MTR station. “Business is slightly better than usual. I’ve sold around 200 items today,” the ice-cream truck driver said.
Some construction workers in Central did not seem too bothered by the heat.
One of them, in his 20s, said he was not aware that it was a “Great Heat” day. “I’ll just do the usual, drink lots of water and have a wet towel [around my neck],” he said.
Office workers darted between shaded spots or used umbrellas to escape the blazing sun.


Hong Kong may issue T1 warning between Thursday and Friday as cyclone Trami edges closer

Storm east of Philippines set to intensify, could skirt Hong Kong by weekend

Hong Kong set for more hot weather, but nights to offer some relief

Hong Kong breaks record with late-year ‘very hot weather’ warning

Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong swelters under hottest ‘Great Heat’ day in 44 years, Observatory says

A woman poses for a picture at Big Wave Bay on a sweltering day. Photo: Yves Sieur

Hong Kong regional temperature at noon on 22 Jul

A swimmer jumps into water from a beach raft at Repulse Bay Beach as the Hong Kong Observatory issues this year's first "Very Hot Weather" warning. Repulse Bay. 09JUL09

People cool themselves inside a fountain at Hong Kong Park in Central during a hot weather day. 19AUG15

A man walks along the Tsim Sha Tsui public pier during sunset. The Hong Kong Observatory posted a warning for very hot weather with a maximum temperature of around 33 degrees, and also The Standby Signal, No. 1 is in force. 12AUG13

Heatwaves affect man and beast around China

A truck driver hoses the pigs he is transporting. SCMP Pictures

=== NO ARCHIVE IMAGE === ATN. HEAT22. SCMP Pictures (UNDATED HANDOUT)

Hong Kong records hottest day for July in almost half a century as Typhoon Nepartak nears

People cover their mouths to protect against severe pollution in Causeway Bay on the hottest day for almost 50 years. Photo: Felix Wong

With pollution levels at maximum, can CityTree help clear Hong Kong's air?

Observatory says temperatures in the New Territories reached a new high for the year of 37.1 degrees in Ta Kwu Ling and Sheung Shui

A man looks out at a hazy harbour from a high-rise office in Wan Chai. Photo: Felix Wong

June 2016 warmest month on record globally 

NASA says both global surface temperatures and the Arctic sea ice extent had "broken numerous records" in the first six months of 2016. Photo: Theo Allofs/The Image Bank/Getty Images

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Temperature soars above 35 degrees Celsius in some parts of the New Territories and the forecast is for an equally hot weekend
