Hong Kong hits 142-year heat record as Typhoon Dolphin drives temperatures
Hong Kong records 36.8°C, hottest since 1884; 38.3°C in Sheung Shui
Hong Kong sweltered through its hottest documented day on Sunday, with the Hong Kong Observatory recording 36.8 degrees Celsius (98 Fahrenheit) at its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters by 1.30pm — breaking the previous all-time high set in 1884. The extreme conditions were triggered by the outer subsiding air of Severe Typhoon Dolphin, which brought generally fine and extremely hot weather to Guangdong province.
Other parts of the city saw even more extreme readings: Sheung Shui hit 38.3 degrees, while Yuen Long Park and Wong Tai Sin both recorded approximately 37 degrees. The Observatory warned that the scorching conditions will persist until midweek. As of Sunday afternoon, Dolphin was centered about 180km east of Wenzhou, moving west at 18km/h toward Zhejiang province and expected to push inland. The heat follows an unusual weather pattern — rather than direct storm impact, the typhoon's sinking air compresses and warms, turning the region into a furnace.
- Hong Kong Observatory recorded 36.8°C at Tsim Sha Tsui — the highest since records began in 1884
- Sheung Shui hit 38.3°C, with Yuen Long Park and Wong Tai Sin around 37°C
- Severe Typhoon Dolphin's outer subsiding air caused the extreme heat; the storm was 180km east of Wenzhou, moving toward Zhejiang
Why It Matters
Record heat poses immediate health risks to outdoor workers and vulnerable residents, highlighting growing climate volatility in dense urban hubs.