Warmest October on record for Hong Kong
Mainly due to a weaker-than-normal northeast monsoon and a stronger-than-normal upper-air anticyclone over southern China, and set against the backdrop of climate warming and a very strong El Niño event that may persist into early next year, October 2026 was unseasonably warm in Hong Kong. The monthly mean maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees, monthly mean temperature of 27.6 degrees and monthly mean minimum temperature of 25.8 degrees were 2.4 degrees, 1.9 degrees and 1.9 degrees above their respective normals and all were the highest ever on record for October. The month was also drier than usual with a total rainfall of 81.0 millimetres, about 67 per cent of the normal of 120.3 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall this year up to October was 2532.9 millimetres, about seven per cent above the normal of 2363.1 millimetres for the same period.
Winds were weak over the coast of Guangdong on the first day of the month. Locally, it was mainly fine and very hot apart from isolated showers. Under weak winds and with plenty of sunshine, the temperature at the Observatory rose to a maximum of 33.6 degrees that afternoon, the highest of the month. The weather conditions, however, changed markedly over the next two days. Affected by upper-air disturbances, local weather turned mainly cloudy with occasional showers and thunderstorms on October 2 and 3. More than 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over many places, and rainfall even exceeded 100 millimetres over parts of Kowloon, Sha Tin and Sai Kung districts on these two days. While it remained mainly cloudy with showers on October 4, there were sunny periods during the day. A cold front moved across the coastal areas that night, bringing heavy showers and squally thunderstorms to the territory. More than 30 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over Yuen Long District, Tsuen Wan District, Central and Western District and Chek Lap Kok. Under the influence of the dry northeast monsoon, local weather turned generally fine and dry from October 5 to 9, except for cloudier conditions on October 6 and one or two rain patches on October 8. It was also slightly cooler on the mornings of October 6 and 7 with the temperature at the Observatory falling to a minimum of 23.3 degrees on October 6, the lowest of the month and the lowest so far this autumn.
An anticyclone aloft established over southern China and the weather of Hong Kong remained generally fine from October 10 to 13. Local weather was mainly fine with relatively low visibility in some areas on the morning of October 14. As a fresh to strong easterly airstream started to affect the territory during the day, it became cloudy with one or two rain patches. The easterly airstream continued to affect the coast of Guangdong in the next four days and moderated gradually. The weather of Hong Kong was mainly fine apart from cloudier conditions on October 17 and one or two rain patches on October 17 and 18. Under the dominance of an anticyclone aloft over southern China, local weather remained generally fine from October 19 to 21. Under clear skies and weak winds, temperatures over the territory generally rose to around 33 degrees on the afternoon of October 21 and parts of the territory even experienced extremely hot weather.
A replenishment of the northeast monsoon arrived overnight on October 21 and 22 and locally, there were one or two showers at first on October 22. Then under the influence of a dry northeast monsoon, the local weather became generally fine and dry during the day from October 23 to 26. Due to large diurnal variation under abundant sunshine and rather dry conditions, the local weather was hot over parts of the territory on October 23. The maximum temperature recorded at the Observatory was 32.3 degrees that afternoon, the hottest Frost solar term ever on record. Under the influence of a band of clouds covering the coast of Guangdong on October 27, there were a few rain patches in the morning and at night, but there were still sunny periods during the day. A fresh to strong northeast monsoon reached the coast of Guangdong on the morning of October 28. The local weather was mainly cloudy and windier on October 28 with one or two rain patches in the morning. While the day started off with one or two light rain patches on October 29, with the gradual moderation of the monsoon and the strengthening of an anticyclone aloft, it became fine and dry during the day. The anticyclone aloft continued to bring fine weather to the territory on October 30 and 31.
Eight tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in October 2026.
Source: AI-created image
Please refer to the following link for the latest monthly forecast: Monthly Forecast.
