The temperature shot to as high as 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit) in Hong Kong on Saturday, tying the record for the city’s hottest “minor heat” period in the traditional Chinese solar calendar set eight years ago.
“Under the influence of the subtropical ridge, the weather is generally fine over southeastern China. Locally, it was sunny and very hot in the afternoon,” the Observatory said.
The maximum temperature recorded at the forecaster’s headquarters was 34 degrees, equalling the record high for the “minor heat” period set in 2016, it added.
“Minor heat”, or Xiaoshu in Chinese, is one the 24 solar terms developed by the ancient Chinese through observing the sun’s annual motion, which served as a guide to agricultural activities thousands of years ago.
In 2016, the system was deemed an intangible cultural heritage by Unesco, the United Nations’ heritage body.
The lowest temperature for the “minor heat” period was recorded on July 7, 2008, at 26.6 degrees.
Another solar period, “great heat”, which is the 12th period in the system and typically signals when sweltering heat will reach its peak, is expected to arrive on July 22.
The Observatory has predicted there will be isolated thunderstorms on Sunday morning, with sunny periods during the day. The highest temperature will be around 33 degrees in urban areas, with the mercury rising by several degrees in the New Territories.
The forecaster said that over the next few days there would be sunny periods and occasional showers during the day, with the maximum temperature hitting 33 degrees.
