Hong Kong experienced hotter, drier September in 2026
The Hong Kong Observatory reported a hotter and drier September 2026, with a maximum temperature of 34.2°C and a minimum of 25.5°C. Seven tropical cyclones affected the South China Sea and western North Pacific during the month.
The Hong Kong Observatory reported that September 2026 was hotter and drier than usual. The month saw a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius on 30 September and a minimum of 25.5 degrees Celsius on 11 September.
Seven tropical cyclones affected the South China Sea and the western North Pacific during the month. Tropical Storm Shadel, which had weakened earlier, intensified into a tropical depression on 31 August and moved northeastwards across the northern South China Sea on 1 September, passing about 200 kilometres southeast of Hong Kong. It strengthened into a tropical storm on 2 September and made landfall in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, on the morning of 3 September, before moving over eastern Guangdong and gradually weakening. Under the combined influence of Shadel and the northeast monsoon, offshore areas and high ground in Hong Kong experienced strong winds on 1 September, with squally showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall of about 20 millimetres was recorded across the territory, with over 40 millimetres in eastern parts of the New Territories.
From 4 to 8 September, weather was generally fine with isolated showers. On 6 September, a cloud band brought showers, with about 10 millimetres of rain in many areas and over 40 millimetres in northeastern parts of the New Territories. On 7 September, daytime heating triggered showers in Guangdong that moved southwards to affect Hong Kong in the afternoon, with over 20 millimetres recorded in Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan districts. The northeast monsoon affected southern China from 9 to 12 September, bringing dry and partly sunny conditions with occasional showers. On 10 September, heavy rain in the northern district recorded over 20 millimetres. On 11 September, the temperature dropped to 25.5 degrees Celsius, the month's lowest. On 12 September, strong northeasterly winds and a tropical depression east of Vietnam increased wind strength, continuing into 13 September.
The northeast monsoon eased on 14 September, but a cloud band brought showers and thunderstorms, with over 40 millimetres in parts of the New Territories, Tuen Mun and Kowloon. From 15 to 17 September, weather turned generally fine and dry. From 18 to 20 September, an upper anticyclone brought dry and mostly sunny conditions, with hot weather on 19 and 20 September. On 21 September, coastal winds were light and weather remained hot. An upper disturbance on 22 September brought showers and thunderstorms, with about 5 millimetres in parts of Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. From 23 to 30 September, the northeast monsoon brought generally fine weather, with isolated showers in the last six days. On 30 September, the temperature reached 34.2 degrees Celsius, the month's highest.
