Hong Kong takes dim view of foggy weather as humid conditions carry into another day
- Visibility in some parts of city falls to as low as 100 metres, with Observatory warning people out on the water to be ‘extra careful’
- City records relative humidity from 70 per cent to 100 per cent on Wednesday; temperatures expected to go from 26 degrees to 16 degrees on Thursday
Hong Kong was blanketed in fog on Wednesday as the relative humidity hit 100 per cent for another day and visibility dropped to as little as 100 metres (328 feet) in some parts of the city.
The Observatory warned that temperature would gradually fall from 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 Fahrenheit) during the day to 19 degrees at night, and go down to 16 degrees on Thursday morning.
“The visibility in many parts of the city remains low this morning, with some places dropping below 200 metres. Those driving vessels should be extra careful,” Dr Tam Hui-ching, an acting senior scientific officer, said.
Visibility in most parts of Hong Kong had dropped to less than 5,000 metres by 6am, with readings at Tathong Point down to 180 metres and to 100 metres at Waglan Island in the east.
The forecaster also registered readings of between 1,000 and 3,000 metres in Sai Wan Ho, Ma Wan and at Western Anchorage, which is in the waters south of Tsing Yi.
The relative humidity on Wednesday was between 70 and 100 per cent.
The shoreline scenery in the coastal district of Tseung Kwan O was engulfed in thick fog and the urban skyline was only just visible through the arches of the Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Bridge.
The Marine Department reminded vessels in Hong Kong waters to proceed at safe speeds and with extreme caution because of restricted visibility of less than 2 nautical miles.
How do Hongkongers cope when the humidity climbs?
The Observatory said the northeast monsoon would gradually affect the coast of southern China on Wednesday, with the temperature slowly dropping to 19 degrees at night.
Forecasters added the temperatures on Thursday morning would dip to 16 degrees and remain below 20 degrees until early next week. The relative humidity is predicted to range from 60 to 95 per cent.
The weather is expected to remain cloudy with bright periods for the rest of the week, with patches of rain over the weekend.
