8th June 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a Very Hot Weather Warning at 12.30pm., with very hot weather expected in Hong Kong today. The public is advised to take precautions against heat stroke, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, infants and children, those with chronic illnesses, and the obese. Symptoms of heat stroke include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.
At noon, an area of low pressure near Beibu Wan brought showers and thunderstorms to western Guangdong, while temperatures rose to 31 degrees or above around Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Guchol was centered about 1130 kilometers east of Manila, moving northwest or west-northwest at about 10 kilometers per hour across the seas east of the Philippines and expected to intensify.
The weather forecast for this afternoon and tonight in Hong Kong predicts very hot weather with a few showers and sunny intervals in the afternoon, while a few showers are expected in the next couple of days. Hot and sunny intervals are expected during the day, with showers becoming more frequent and thunderstorms in the following week. The night will be mainly cloudy with light to moderate southeasterly winds.
The area of low pressure near Beibu Wan will continue to bring showers and thunderstorms to western Guangdong in the next couple of days. A trough of low pressure will also form over the northern part of southern China and move southwards, bringing showers to the coast of Guangdong over the weekend. The two low-pressure systems will subsequently become more active and linger over the coast of southern China. Heavy showers and squally thunderstorms are expected over the region midweek next week. Additionally, Tropical Cyclone Guchol will move across the seas east of the Philippines and continue to intensify in the next couple of days before turning northwards and moving across the western North Pacific.
Meanwhile, as the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.