Climate of Hong Kong
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Hong Kong's climate belongs to Group C of the Köppen's climate classification scheme.
In December, January and February, the sky is typically overcast and occasional cold fronts are experienced. Temperatures can be low by Hong Kong standards, but snow and frost are very unlikely to form (as sub-zero temperatures almost never occur). Rainfall is rare. Cold weather and drizzle can persist once they begin. Winter weather usually ends abruptly, as the cold winds cease to blow; spring then follows.
From March to May, the chance of rainfall increases, and humidity is usually higher than in October and November. However, locals tend to welcome these months, as the searing summer heat has yet to arrive.
June to September are hottest months of the year. Temperature ranges between 26°C-34°C. These are also the months of thunderstorms. A typical forecast for a summer day includes hot and sunny conditions, with isolated showers and thunderstorms. Hong Kong is also very likely to be hit by typhoons during summer. Typhoons are classified by size from tropical storms to severe super-typhoons. If the typhoon passes by Hong Kong at a distance, it will bring a little rain and wind that might only last for half a day. If it scores a direct hit, the winds can be deadly and it may rain for days.
Typhoons are violent tropical cyclones, a massive twisting air currents with hundreds of kilometres in width. They can only exist over warm oceans. When they hit the land, their moisture will dry out and they die out. The eye of typhoon is usually tens of kilometres wide and has a column of descending air. It can be entirely calm in contrast to the surrounding vortex.
Hong Kong is only a small point on earth and hence the odds for a direct typhoon hit is not great. However, when it does occur, the Hong Kong Observatory issues the Typhoon Signal no. 10, the strongest storm warning issued by the agency.
See also
External Links
- Hong Kong Observatory web site (http://www.hko.gov.hk/)
- The Climate Information site from HKO (http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/climahk.htm)