Hong Kong could be heading for another unusually hot year, with the Hong Kong Observatory warning that 2026 has a high chance of ranking among the city’s 10 warmest years on record.
Hong Kong Records A Warmer Start To The Year
The HKO’s Acting Assistant Director, Choy Chun-wing, said Hong Kong is expected to be “hotter than normal this year and next year”, with summer temperatures also forecast to be above normal. The warning was issued during a joint press conference with the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association on May 28.
The first half of the year has already started on a warmer note. January was 1°C above normal, while February was 3°C above normal and one of the second warmest Februarys on record. March was also 2°C above normal, while April reached a mean temperature of 25.5°C, the second highest ever recorded for the month.
Elderly Residents Urged To Take Precautions
The warning also comes with concern for elderly residents. SCHSA Chief Executive Officer Maura Wong said older people are more prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke during the summer.
A 2024 telephone survey by the association found that nearly one in four elderly people had felt unwell due to heat, with symptoms such as dizziness and breathing difficulties. Last summer, SCHSA handled more than 7,700 emergency assistance cases requiring hospitalisation.
Officials urged the public to prepare for very hot weather and reminded carers to check on elderly residents more proactively during periods of extreme heat.
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