Hong Kong matches record for hottest summer solstice
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Scientists warn extreme heat globally will become more frequent and intense because of human-induced climate change.
PHOTO: AFP
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HONG KONG - Hong Kong matched its record for the hottest summer solstice as a subtropical ridge drove temperatures up to 34 deg C on June 21.
“The maximum temperature recorded at the observatory was 34 deg C, the highest so far in 2024 and equalling the record high for summer solstice set in 1980,” the city’s weather observatory said.
The Chinese finance hub saw its hottest summer on record in 2023, with the mean temperature hitting 29.7 deg C in August.
The top three warmest years in Hong Kong’s history were all recorded after 2018.
Scientists warn that extreme heat globally will become more frequent and intense because of human-induced climate change.
The Hong Kong Observatory issued its “very hot weather” warning on June 21 and health officials urged the public to drink plenty of water and take measures to avoid heatstroke.
The authorities said they will continue to operate 19 temporary heat shelters for people to spend the night.
Hong Kong has in recent years emphasised the need to protect workers from heat stress, but has stopped short of enacting legal safeguards.
The city does not list heatstroke as a work-related injury in its laws, and activists say government statistics undercount the number of workers who died of the illness. AFP
