Record-Breaking High Temperatures

Record-Breaking High Temperatures

Hui Kin-chung

With a stronger than usual subtropical ridge persisting over southern China, July 2022 was the hottest month since records began in 1884. The monthly mean maximum temperature of 33.3 ℃, monthly mean temperature of 30.3 ℃ and monthly mean minimum temperature of 28.4 ℃ were the highest of the correspondingly monthly mean values on record. The Observatory recorded 10 days with daily maximum temperatures equal to or higher than 35.0 ℃. There were 25 hot nights and 21 very hot days; both totals were the highest on record for any month. The 21 consecutive hot nights that started from 9 July also set a new record.

The maximum temperature of 35.9 ℃ recorded by the Observatory on 13 September 2022 was the highest on record for September, whereas the maximum temperature of 33.5 ℃ recorded by the Observatory on 4 October resulted in the hottest Chung Yeung Festival on record. There were 15 days with daily maximum temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory equal to or higher than 35.0 ℃ from January to October 2022, which is not only the highest total on record for the same period, but also breaks the record for a year.

Long-term time series of July mean temperature in Hong Kong