On Friday, Hong Kong experienced its highest temperature ever recorded during the 'Frost' solar term, a period in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar that typically signals the onset of cooler weather. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the mercury hit 32.1 degrees Celsius by 2:30 p.m.

The 'Frost' term, which is the 18th of the 24 solar terms, officially began on October 23. While these terms are historically used to track seasonal changes and natural phenomena, the city has seen temperatures consistently exceeding 30 degrees Celsius throughout the past few weeks. Following the record-breaking heat, the observatory has cautioned residents to prepare for a very dry weekend. The report attributes the ongoing warmth to current weather patterns, though it notes that the city has been experiencing a sustained period of heat that deviates from typical seasonal expectations.