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Temperatures in some parts of Hong Kong soared beyond 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit) on Saturday, prompting authorities to caution the public to take measures against heatstroke and sunburn.
Data from the Hong Kong Observatory showed the maximum temperature for Sheung Shui on Saturday was as high as 37.3 degrees, the district’s highest so far this year, while Yuen Long Park also reached 36.1 degrees.
Other areas in the New Territories such as Ta Kwu Ling, Tai Po and Tin Shui Wai also saw the mercury soar beyond 35 degrees at most, while the rest of Hong Kong remained steadily above 30 degrees throughout the day.
“The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection said.
“Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system.”
The centre also called on parents of young children, seniors, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and those who were overweight to pay extra attention to the risk of heatstroke.
The public was also advised to protect against prolonged sun exposure, as the Ultraviolet Index peaked at 12, or “extreme” just after noon.
Residents could protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes, staying in the shade, and applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, it added.
The Observatory said an anticyclone aloft was bringing hot weather to the city and the heat was expected to persist throughout the weekend as well as into next week, with some occasional showers.
Observatory Scientific Officer Wong Ka-hing said high-altitude anticyclones often brought clear skies and sunny weather, pushing temperatures even higher.
“[Anticyclones] present unfavourable conditions for water vapour to rise, which means there are less clouds in the skies,” he said.
The coming week will be largely sunny and hot, with temperatures ranging from a low of 29 degrees and to a high of 34 degrees.
In June, Hong Kong recorded its hottest summer solstice in more than four decades, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees. Meteorologists had then predicted a hotter-than-normal summer with more heatwaves ahead due to climate change.
