Tropical Cyclone Dolphin Triggers Hong Kong Heatwave With Temperatures Exceeding 38C

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On August 8, 2026, Hong Kong sweltered under extreme heat as temperatures exceeded 38 degrees Celsius in parts of the city.

Tropical Cyclone Dolphin Drives Extreme Temperatures

The Hong Kong Observatory reported that Tropical Cyclone Dolphin is currently tracking toward the vicinity of Zhejiang and northern Fujian.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, “its outer subsiding air will persistently bring extremely hot weather to the territory in the next couple of days. Temperatures in some areas will reach 37 degrees or above. High temperature weather is expected to continue midweek next week.”

Relief, however, is on the horizon.

Climate Change and Super-Strong El Niño Amplifying Risks

Last month went into the record books as Hong Kong’s second-rainiest July on record, a period defined by 20 amber rainstorm warnings and five red rainstorm warnings.

Looking at the broader environmental context, the Hong Kong Observatory warned earlier that the city faces potential record-breaking high temperatures across this year and next year. These forecasts are tied directly to climate change models and projections of a super-strong El Niño event. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by abnormally warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

Scientific consensus underscores the human footprint behind these intensifying weather patterns. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that the frequency and intensity of global heatwaves have climbed steadily since the 1950s. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap atmospheric heat, pushing global surface temperatures upward and putting vulnerable urban populations at risk.

Urban Infrastructure and Public Health Pressures

Research from the independent NGO Berkeley Earth shows that Hong Kong has already warmed by 1.7 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution. A 2023 study warns that heat and humidity could reach lethal levels for protracted periods by the end of the century, rendering outdoor activity impossible during peak months.

The transition from relentless heat to forecasted rainstorms mid-week highlights the volatile nature of Hong Kong’s changing climate. Managing these rapid environmental shifts demands continuous vigilance from both public agencies and private sector operators as the city adapts to a warmer future.

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