Hong Kong hits 33 degrees Celsius, haze set to last until later this week

Forecaster says temperatures are highest so far this year, while doctor warns residents in high-risk groups to reduce outdoor activities

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Swimmers catch some rays in Repulse Bay as Hong Kong swelters on the hottest day of the year so far. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:37pm, 15 Apr 2025Updated: 7:31pm, 15 Apr 2025

Hong Kong experienced its hottest day of the year so far on Tuesday, with the city’s forecaster reporting a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui in the afternoon.

The Observatory issued the very hot weather warning at 1.45pm, with temperatures in Sheung Shui soaring to 36.3 degrees.

Low visibility from sand and dusty weather at the weekend was likely to persist until later this week, the Observatory said, while a doctor warned residents in high-risk groups to reduce their outdoor activities when the air quality was poor.

Yeung Kwok-chung, a senior scientific officer with the Observatory, said the last time that Hong Kong had been affected by such severe hazy weather was 15 years ago.

“Although there is a chance of an easterly wind on Wednesday, where there is a possibility that the current weather situation will slowly ease. This will depend on the strength of the wind and the conditions allowing for the dispersal of the air,” he told a radio programme.

“There is a chance that this low visibility condition will last until the middle to latter parts of this week, which is the Easter holiday.”

Yeung said the forecaster had recorded visibility levels of about 5km (3.1 miles) on Monday at its headquarters between 11am and noon, which rose to about 6km during the latter parts of Monday to Tuesday.