The observatory on Monday said this Lunar New Year's Eve could be the warmest on record, with temperatures expected to reach 28 degrees Celsius.

The average temperature stood at 22 degrees as of 10.30am, making it the highest "minimum temperature" since records began in 1884.

Records showed that the warmest Lunar New Year's Eve was in 2007, when the minimum temperature was 20.5 degrees.

The highest maximum temperature was recorded in 1952 – 27.8 degrees.

Looking ahead, scientific officer at the observatory Wong Ka-hing said weather conditions would get slightly cooler from Tuesday.

"We expect that a fresh to strong north-east monsoon will affect the coast of southern China over the Lunar New Year holiday," he told RTHK.

"It will be cloudier, with temperatures falling slightly on Lunar New Year's Day.

"It will be cool in the morning, and the weather will be brighter during the day over the region on the second and the third day of the Lunar New Year.

"We expect that temperatures will range between 19 and 23 degrees tomorrow, and the weather will be cool in the morning on Wednesday and on Thursday."

Wong said the observatory would come up with an update later in the afternoon over whether the record for the highest maximum temperature had been broken.

He added that residents were advised to take note of weather conditions and be suitably attired.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden