Hong Kong Cold Front 2026: How Cold Will It Get This Week?

When will the cold front reach Hong Kong?

The Hong Kong Observatory expects a cold front to move across the coast of southern China on Wednesday 18 November 2026, bringing a switch to northerly winds and a marked drop in temperature later in the day ^[1]. Its nine-day forecast issued at 11:30 HKT on 15 November says winds will be easterly force 3 on Wednesday morning, becoming north force 4 to 5 and occasionally force 6 on high ground ^[1].

Before the front arrives, a fresh easterly airstream will make Monday and Tuesday cloudier, with one or two rain patches ^[1][2]. Tuesday 17 November is forecast to be the warmest day of the week, at 24-27°C ^[1]. Wednesday is forecast at 21-26°C, with visibility relatively low in some areas at first, before the cooler air pushes in ^[1].

Behind the front, the Observatory expects the northeast monsoon and a band of rain and clouds to keep mornings and nights generally cool over the Guangdong coast in the latter part of the week ^[1]. The forecast says only that temperatures fall later on Wednesday, so check the latest forecast on Tuesday evening.

How cold will Hong Kong get this week?

Friday 20 November is forecast to be the coolest day, with temperatures between 16°C and 19°C at the Observatory, according to the nine-day forecast issued on 15 November ^[1]. Thursday is forecast at 18-22°C and Saturday at 16-21°C ^[1].

The forecast has become colder over the past day. In the version dispatched at 12:05 HKT on 14 November, the Observatory expected 17-20°C on Friday and 18-22°C on Saturday ^[4]. The newer forecast lowered Friday by 1°C and Saturday's low by 2°C ^[1][4]. Further changes are possible as the front gets closer.

From Tuesday's forecast high of 27°C to Friday's forecast low of 16°C is a fall of 11°C in three days ^[1]. The daytime high drops by 8°C over the same period, from 27°C to 19°C ^[1]. Because Friday's range is only 3°C, it may feel cool all day rather than only in the morning, especially with north to northeast winds of force 4 to 5 ^[1].

The table below gives the Observatory's forecast for each day. These are the Observatory's forecast ranges; some districts, such as the northern New Territories, can be colder ^[7].

Will it rain when the cold front arrives?

Only a little. The Observatory forecasts a few rain patches on Wednesday 18 November and one or two rain patches on Thursday morning and night and on Friday ^[1]. It rates the probability of significant rain as medium low on Wednesday and low on the other days through Monday 23 November ^[1].

Sunday 15 November itself is fine and dry, with light to moderate northeasterly winds ^[2]. At 13:00 HKT, the Observatory recorded 25°C at its headquarters and relative humidity of 67%, and no rain had fallen anywhere in Hong Kong in the previous hour ^[3].

The Fire Danger Warning was Yellow on Sunday morning, meaning the fire risk is high, the Observatory said ^[3]. The Observatory forecasts minimum relative humidity of 60% from Thursday to Saturday ^[1]. Hikers and people visiting country parks should follow official fire safety rules.

November is normally one of Hong Kong's driest months, with a 1991-2020 average of 39.3 mm of rain on about 5.7 days ^[5].

How unusual is this for November in Hong Kong?

A fall to 16-19°C would be cool for the time of year: between 1991 and 2020, the Observatory's November mean daily maximum was 24.5°C and its mean daily minimum was 20.3°C ^[5]. Friday's forecast is therefore about 4°C below the normal minimum and about 5.5°C below the normal maximum ^[1][5].

It is not extreme by winter standards. The Observatory's January normals are a mean maximum of 18.7°C and a mean minimum of 14.6°C, so Friday's forecast is closer to a mild January day than to a cold one ^[5]. December normals are 20.4°C and 16.2°C ^[5].

The Observatory said the cool spell is driven by a cold front and the northeast monsoon that follows it ^[1].

The forecast also shows the cool air easing quickly. Temperatures are expected to recover to 19-23°C on Sunday 22 November and 21-24°C on Monday 23 November ^[1].

Which areas of Hong Kong will be coldest?

The Observatory's automatic regional forecasts pointed to the northern New Territories being coldest, with lows of about 13°C in Ta Kwu Ling on Friday, The Standard reported on 14 November ^[7]. The same report said minimum temperatures in Tin Shui Wai and Sheung Shui could fall to 15°C on Friday ^[7].

For Thursday, the regional forecasts put overnight and early morning temperatures across most of the New Territories at about 16-17°C, with Ta Kwu Ling at about 14°C, according to The Standard ^[7]. These figures were based on the 14 November forecasts, before the Observatory lowered its Friday forecast on 15 November, so they may be revised ^[1][7].

The sea temperature at North Point was 25°C on Sunday ^[1]. High ground is windier, with winds occasionally reaching force 6 ^[1].

Metro Daily, citing The Standard, reported on 14 November a forecast drop of 7°C within 24 hours, from Tuesday's high of 27°C to Wednesday's low of 20°C; the Observatory's 15 November forecast puts Wednesday's low at 21°C ^[1][9].

Will the Observatory issue a Cold Weather Warning?

Not on current forecasts for urban areas. In a 2004 statement, an Observatory officer called 12°C an important reference point for the Cold Weather Warning, but said the warning is not issued automatically at that temperature and that humidity and wind speed are also considered ^[8]. The Observatory's forecast low this week is 16°C ^[1].

The Observatory says it issues the warning whenever Hong Kong is expected to be generally threatened by cold weather, to alert people to the danger of low body temperature ^[6]. On 15 November, the only warning in force was the Yellow Fire Danger Warning ^[3].

Even without a warning, a quick fall in temperature can catch people out. The Observatory's general advice for cold weather includes wearing warm clothes, avoiding long exposure to wind, checking on older people or people with chronic illnesses who live alone, and making sure heaters are safe and rooms are well ventilated ^[6].

People with health conditions who are worried about the change in weather should follow advice from their own doctor; this guide does not give medical advice.

How should you prepare for the temperature drop?

Plan for a warm, cloudy start to the week and a cool, windy end, and check the forecast again before Wednesday ^[1][2].

1. Layer clothes from Wednesday: the day is forecast at 21-26°C and cools later, so carry a light jacket ^[1].
2. Expect a cool Friday: 16-19°C with north to northeast winds feels cooler than the numbers suggest ^[1].
3. Take an umbrella midweek: a few rain patches are forecast on Wednesday, with one or two on Thursday and Friday ^[1].
4. Check heaters before use: keep them away from anything that can burn and keep rooms ventilated ^[6].
5. Look in on neighbours: older people living alone may need help when temperatures fall quickly ^[6].
6. Hike carefully: high ground is windier, and the fire risk was high on Sunday ^[1][3].

If you travel to mainland China this week, conditions north of Hong Kong can be colder, so check local forecasts there as well.

Where can you check the latest Hong Kong Observatory forecast?

The Observatory publishes its nine-day forecast and local weather forecast several times a day on its website ^[1][2].

The local forecast covers today and the days immediately after, and the nine-day forecast covers the longer period with a daily temperature range, wind, humidity and a probability of significant rain ^[1][2]. The current weather report gives hourly temperatures at about 27 stations across Hong Kong, so you can see how your district compares with the Observatory headquarters ^[3].

Warnings such as the Cold Weather Warning or Fire Danger Warning appear on the Observatory's warning summary page ^[3][6]. The Standard's district figures came from the Observatory's automatic regional forecasts ^[7].

The Observatory's own accuracy estimates are about 90% for days 1-3, 85% for days 4-7 and 80% for days 8-9 ^[1]. Use the table on this page as a guide and check again on the day.