This May is unusually cold. The Observatory Headquarters recorded a low temperature of 16.4 degrees this morning (2nd), setting the record for the lowest temperature in May in the past 105 years. Change from short-sleeves and vests to long-sleeved, light jackets to keep warm.
Summer is approaching, but the weather has suddenly cooled down. Liang Rongwu, former assistant director of the Observatory and spokesman for the Meteorological Society, estimated that there are four major factors, including natural weather fluctuations, strong cold air brought by the northeast monsoon, two consecutive days of rain, and La Niña. The phenomenon caused the cold wave along the South China coast to be slightly stronger than normal, thus bringing cooler weather.
But he predicts that extreme heat will only increase under global warming, and such extreme cool weather will become rarer.
▼On May 2, the Observatory recorded 16.4 degrees, the lowest temperature record in May in 105 years▼
Yesterday (1st) was May 1st Labor Day. Affected by the northeast monsoon and the showers brought by high-altitude disturbances, it continued to rain in many areas. In the afternoon, a strong monsoon signal was also issued. The minimum temperature in the urban area dropped to 17.1 degrees, breaking the 1953 The low temperature record (17.7 degrees) on May 1, 1917 became the coldest Labor Day in the past 105 years after the May 1, 1917 record of 15.4 degrees.
The Observatory also adjusted the minimum temperature forecast for today several times yesterday. From the initial forecast of 19 degrees, it was lowered to 18 degrees in the morning, and further lowered to 17 degrees in the afternoon, and the lowest forecast was only 16 degrees near midnight.
The Observatory headquarters recorded a low temperature of 16.4 degrees this morning, the lowest temperature recorded for May since 1917.
Luo Jiawei, the scientific director of the Observatory, explained that it started to rain yesterday morning. At the same time, due to the cold air brought by the northeast monsoon, the temperature during the day gradually dropped from about 25 degrees to about 17 degrees in the middle of the night. In addition, the rain continued this morning, so the temperature further decline.
Experts say cold air will be cooler in case of showers
Liang Rongwu said that in the past, there would still be cold air going south from April to June. The temperature fluctuates greatly this time. It is estimated that there are four major factors, including natural fluctuations in the weather, strong cold air brought by the northeast monsoon, and rainfall for two consecutive days. The temperature dropped further and the La Niña phenomenon made the cold wave along the South China coast slightly stronger than normal, thus bringing cooler weather.
Leung continued to point out that even though it did not rain heavily these two days, when the cold air hits, there will be a few showers at the same time. When the rainwater evaporates, it will absorb the heat from the ground and the lower air, making the weather cooler. The situation is just like in January 2016. During the strong cold wave of the month, the temperature at the Observatory dropped to a minimum of only 3.1 degrees in the afternoon of January 24. There was also rainfall on that day, which was favorable for the temperature to drop.
Therefore, he believes that the record-breaking low temperature was recorded this time, and cloud cover, rainfall and wind speed are also influencing factors.
The Observatory also pointed out last month that La Niña has continued for more than a few months, and the water temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific has remained cold. Based on the latest ocean observations and forecasts from various climate models around the world, La Niña will continue in the next two to three months. .
Extremely hot weather is expected to increase
Liang Rongwu predicted that due to the impact of global warming, Hong Kong recorded 36.1 degrees on May 23 last year, breaking the Observatory's highest temperature record in May since 1884. It is believed that this type of extreme cool weather will only become more and more rare; on the contrary, Extremely hot weather will increase.
Liang Rongwu predicts that due to the impact of global warming, such extreme cool weather will only become more and more rare; on the contrary, extreme hot weather will become more and more frequent.
(File photo / Photo by Lin Ruoqin)
▼On April 29, the Observatory issued a hot weather warning, breaking the record for the earliest issue in history▼
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