Hong Kong marks hottest ‘Frost’ solar term on record at 32.1 degrees Celsius

Hong Kong recorded its highest-ever temperature for the traditional Chinese calendar’s “Frost” solar term on Friday, with the weather forecaster warning of a very dry weekend ahead.

The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature reached 32.1 degrees Celsius by 2.30pm.

Frost, the 18th of the Chinese lunisolar calendar’s 24 solar terms, began on October 23. The terms mark natural phenomena and seasonal changes.

Temperatures in the city have topped 30 degrees over the past few weeks, partly because of the effects of a super typhoon, El Nino and global warming.

The forecaster warned the public to prepare for a “fine and very dry” weekend, with a considerable difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

Humidity fell to 39 per cent on Friday and was forecast to drop further to 35 per cent on Saturday.

Earth science expert Professor Amos Tai Pui-kuen earlier explained that a “super” El Nino would make the city hotter, bringing more heat and increased evaporation.

Tai expected temperatures to fall gradually as winter approached but said the city would remain warm because of the lingering effects of the “super” El Nino.