HK swelters through its hottest day ever

Hong Kong experienced its highest temperature ever on Sunday, reaching a scorching 36.9 degrees Celsius at the Observatory in the afternoon. This surpassed the previous record of 36.6 degrees Celsius set in 2017, even before Typhoon Hato passed through the city. Sheung Shui recorded a high of 39.8 degrees Celsius, marking the city's hottest reading since automatic weather stations were installed in the 1980s.

Numerous districts reported temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius or higher. Forecasts suggest that the extreme heat will persist for the next few days and extend into the middle of the week. The cooling effect of Severe Typhoon Dolphin is bringing fine and extremely hot weather to Guangdong. In Mong Kok, locals and tourists alike shared their methods for staying cool.

Ashraf, a local woman, stressed the importance of staying hydrated and seeking shade, acknowledging that this heat was hotter than anything she had previously experienced. She attributed the increased temperatures to climate change. Tuti, a foreign domestic helper, appreciated the break and noted that the hot weather was typical for her home country, Indonesia.

Malaysian tourist Mok admitted that the humidity was a new experience for him, as Malaysia is usually cool. Despite the record temperatures, some, like a young boy wearing a long-sleeved sweater, remained unfazed, citing fashion over practicality.