Hong Kong sits on the South China coast at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, just south of the Tropic of Cancer at approximately 22.32°N, 114.17°E. It has a humid subtropical, monsoon-influenced climate with four seasons: a warm, foggy, humid spring; a hot, wet summer; a pleasant, sunny autumn; and a mild, relatively dry winter. Its position on the coast makes it a frequent target of typhoons and gives it very high humidity.

Summer, from late May to September, is hot, muggy and very wet, with July the warmest month — average highs around 31–33°C and warm nights near 26°C. Humidity often exceeds 85–90%, pushing the feels-like temperature toward 40°C, and the dense skyscraper canyons of districts like Mong Kok trap heat, keeping them several degrees warmer at night. This is the heart of the rainy season and of typhoon season, when tropical cyclones can bring destructive wind, torrential rain, flooding and city-wide shutdowns.

Winter, from December to February, is mild and comparatively dry, with January the coolest month — average highs around 18–20°C and lows near 15°C. The northeast monsoon can occasionally push temperatures below 10°C on the coldest days, and the record low is 0°C, but frost is essentially unknown in the city. Early winter is often sunny before turning cloudier and mistier toward February. This is the most comfortable season.

Hong Kong is very wet, receiving around 2,400 mm of rain a year, roughly 80% of it falling between May and September; June is typically the wettest month, sometimes topping 450–500 mm, while January is the driest. Much of the rain arrives as intense monsoon downpours and thunderstorms, and heavy-rain events causing flooding and landslides are a regular summer hazard. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Two features define Hong Kong's weather. First, the typhoon season from roughly May to November, when several tropical cyclones a year affect the territory and the Observatory's signal system (up to the city-halting T8, T9 and T10 warnings) governs daily life. Second, the spring fog: as warm, moist southerly air returns in March and April, humidity approaches 100% and walls and floors 'sweat' with condensation. A pronounced urban heat island keeps the dense city core warmer than the green New Territories.

To follow any single measurement in Hong Kong more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.