Hong Kong shivers through its coldest day since 1957: kindergartens, primary schools closed today
Schools closed due to near-freezing temperatures on Monday, but an outpouring of ‘frost chasers’ clogged local peaks and led to rescue efforts on Sunday
The city’s coldest weather in nearly six decades was expected to continue on Monday, prompting a suspension of primary schools and pleas from officials urging the public to avoid hiking the highest local peaks, where sub-zero temperatures left roads frozen and dangerous.
Minimum temperatures at the Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui dropped to just 3.1 degrees Celsius yesterday, the lowest reading since 1957 and the third-lowest ever. Areas at higher elevations saw temperatures dip below zero.
Watch: Frost and ice hits Hong Kong's highest mountain in -5 degree weather
The Education Bureau announced a suspension of classes at kindergartens, primary schools and schools for children with intellectual and physical disabilities on Monday due to the uncommonly cold weather.
READ MORE: Polar vortex hits Hong Kong: record low temperatures close schools, hospitalise 45, injure 111, trap 130 on Kowloon Peak
Over the weekend, frigid and windy weather attracted throngs of ‘frost chasers’ to Tai Mo Shan, the city’s highest mountain, to experience the rare freezing conditions. But the outpouring resulted in at least 111 people taking ill or being injured on Sunday.
Watch: China and Hong Kong shiver from cold spell
Sixty-four people – mainly Hong Kong 100 trail runners and some curious hikers – landed in hospital. Most suffered from hypothermia, but some suffered injuries from collisions and sprains. As of 4.30pm on Sunday, three were in serious condition.
READ MORE: Hong Kong farmers face dismal harvest following harsh winter and frost threat
Nearly half of the trail runners participating in a 100km run also struggled to finish stages of the MacLehose Trail, crossing paths with eager “frost chasers”.
The narrow roads were thick with cars and people, quickly bringing traffic at Tai Mo Shan Road to a halt. Police eventually closed off the road late Sunday morning.
“Everything was frozen up there, even the roads,” said university student Danny Yip, 23, who had hiked with his friends to Tai Mo Shan’s highest accessible point, which at its coldest hour hit minus 5.7 degrees.
The Fire Services Department received about 20 calls for help at the site by 9am Sunday. Blocked traffic and icy roads slowed rescue efforts. An additional 130 people were reportedly trapped on Kowloon Peak, which police closed off at about noon Sunday.
The situation was so serious that New Territories South divisional commander Wong Ka-wing urged the public not to hike or drive up the mountains due to the dangerous conditions of icy roads. “Whether it’s vehicles or people, anyone passing through is likely to face slippery and dangerous conditions,” he said.
READ MORE: Hong Kong frost chasers stranded on Tai Mo Shan: fire department responds to calls for help, trucks blocked by traffic jam
Wong said 141 firefighters, 26 ambulances as well as the civil and government flying services took part in rescue operations.
Sin Chi-sing, police district commander for Tsuen Wan, brushed off concerns that the roads were closed too late, saying they assessed the situation thoroughly.
Meanwhile, by Sunday afternoon, the mercury was still lingering at about four degrees in urban areas, while sub-zero temperatures were observed at higher ground. At Lau Fau Shan, temperatures dipped to about two degrees at noon Sunday, while at Tsuen Wan’s Ho Koon, it was just one degree.
There were reports of “freezing rain” as well as rain with “small ice pellets” in other parts of the territory including Yuen Long, Kam Tin,Ta Kwu Ling and Tai Po.
Meteorologically different from snow and rain, “freezing rain” occurs when snowflakes descend into a warmer layer of air and melt completely before refreezing on contact with a surface. “Ice pellets” occur when snowfall melts partially and refreezes before hitting the ground.
Observatory assistant director Edwin Lai Sau-tak said the city would be affected by the intense cold front “for a few more days”, with temperatures on Monday hovering between three and nine degrees in fine, dry weather.
