Hong Kong records hottest day ever as Typhoon Dolphin drives extreme heat

Hong Kong has recorded its highest official temperature since records began in 1884, after Typhoon Dolphin pushed warm air over the city. The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature at its headquarters reached 36.9C on Sunday, setting a new city record. The heat came as the storm moved towards eastern China and continued to affect weather conditions in the region.

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The observatory said the previous Hong Kong record was 36.6C, set on 22 August 2017 before Typhoon Hato. It also said temperatures in other parts of the city were higher than the official reading, with a station in Sheung Shui in the north recording 39.8C. That was described as the highest temperature logged in Hong Kong since automatic weather stations were introduced in the 1980s.

The observatory issued a very hot weather warning and advised people to drink water and avoid vigorous outdoor activity. Typhoon Dolphin had already caused disruption along China's east coast before making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening. According to the meteorological authorities, it came ashore near Yuhuan at about 5.30pm local time, with maximum sustained winds of 94mph, or 151km/h, near its centre.

The storm was also linked to mass flight cancellations and evacuations in the run-up to landfall. In Hong Kong, the observatory said the storm's outer subsiding air would keep extremely hot weather in the territory through Tuesday. The record matters because it adds to evidence that extreme heat can intensify even when a tropical cyclone is nearby, rather than only bringing rain and wind.

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Hong Kong is a densely built financial centre where high temperatures can place pressure on public health, transport and outdoor work. The warning also comes at a time when heat events are drawing closer attention in many places because of their impact on daily life and infrastructure. The observatory said its headquarters reading is the official reference point for Hong Kong's temperature records.

It also noted that the city's previous record had stood for eight years. The wider storm system has been tracked closely because of its effects both in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland, where it had already prompted precautionary measures before landfall. What remains unclear is how long the very hot weather will persist beyond Tuesday and whether further local records could be challenged.

The observatory has urged residents to take precautions while the storm's influence continues. The next developments to watch are any further temperature readings in Hong Kong and the extent of disruption as Typhoon Dolphin weakens inland.

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