Weather Overview

Hong Kong's climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in winter and exceeding 31 degrees Celsius in summer. Hong Kong’s latitude may be within the tropics, but its seasons change every now and then. Like the other countries in the Pacific, Hong Kong usually experiences monsoons and seasonal alternation of winds.

 

Winter | MID-DECEMBER – FEBRUARY

Come the latter half of December to February, it’s mostly cloudy and cold, but dry. Winters in Hong Kong are mild and usually start sunny. The occasional cold front brings strong and cooling winds, with temperatures dropping from 20oC to about 10oC. The coolest month is usually January.

Clothing: Dress warmly. Wear a sweater and pants during the day, and light jacket or coat during the evening. Closed shoes such as boots, sneakers and rubber shoes are an excellent choice of footwear for this period, especially since you’ll be doing a lot of walking while travelling. Bring an umbrella just in case there is a sudden change of weather.

 

Spring | MARCH – MAY

During Spring, the temperature ranges from 18oC to 27oC, with humidity often rising to 77%. In this transitional period towards summer, you can expect constant rain and showers and only a little sunshine. 80% of the total precipitation occurs during this period. It is not advisable to go from March to May because the humidity is high, and the resulting fog and drizzle can make touring difficult, especially in the areas of West New Territories and the Southern islands where rainfall is particularly great.

Clothing: Dress lightly. Wear light footwear as well. However, bring an umbrella and other waterproof clothing to protect yourself from rainfall.

 

Summer | JUNE – MID-SEPTEMBER

Summer is mostly humid with occasional rainfall and thunderstorms. About 90 per cent of the rainfall occurs between April and early September. If you’re a backpacker and insist on going on an adventure even in rainy weather amidst sweltering heat and humidity, then it would be okay to go to Hong Kong from June to August. During this period, the temperatures range from 26oC to 33oC and humidity level is at 86%.

Be warned though that come September, typhoons will start to loom often. Clothing: T-shirts and shorts would be best. Don’t forget to bring sun cream! Also, carry an umbrella or wear a hat to shield yourself against intense sunshine. For those going to the beach, wear shoes that dry quickly.

 

Autumn | MID-SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER

During autumn, temperatures are moderate, the skies are clear and the sun shines. Temperatures range from 18oC to 28oC. Humidity is down to 72%.

Clothing: Shirtsleeves and walking shorts are recommended. You can wear exposed footwear such as sandals and nice slippers. For those who want to take advantage of this weather by touring the city and the islands, wear hiking boots or shoes. Towards the end of autumn, be ready to wear a sweater during the evening as it will start to get colder.

For more information regarding appropriate clothing in Hong Kong based on their culture, visit the Practical Info page.

 

Local Tips:

Wondering when's the best time to visit Hong Kong? It would be during autumn and winter where temperature is cool but dry. These are the months of late-September to early February.

Even if the weather is hot or dry, make it a habit to bring your cardigan, or sweater, or long sleeves with you as establishments in Hong Kong are known for having full-blast air-conditioners.

If you don’t want to pack an umbrella, they are available for purchase in most convenience stores and markets near transport stations and tourist spots

 

Average Temperatures & Precipitation for Hong Kong by Month

 

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High °C 18 18 21 25 28 30 31 31 30 27 24 20
Low °C 14 15 17 20 24 26 26 26 25 23 19 15
High °F 64 65 70 77 82 86 88 87 85 81 75 68
Low °F 57 59 63 68 75 79 80 78 77 73 66 59
Precipitation (mm) 24 54 82 174 304 456 376 432 327 100 37 26

Below is todays weather in Hong Kong, as well as the coming 5 days of Hong Kong weather forecast, this information is updated hourly.