In recent years, Hong Kong has experienced a series of extreme weather events. In July 2022, the scorching heat broke 11 records, while in 2023, the city experienced hourly rainfall of 158.1mm, the highest since records began in 1884. An inter-university research team by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) conducted a study on extreme weather events and their impacts on the built environment in Hong Kong, aiming to assess the trends and effects of extreme weather events under the influence of global climate change.

The cross-university research team combined a mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model with local urban environmental data to estimate the average number of hot nights in Hong Kong from the past decade to the 2040s. The finding predicts a 50% increase in hot nights and over 40% rise in extreme rainfall in Hong Kong by the 2040s. 

Prof. Jimmy FUNG, Chair Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Division of Environment and Sustainability at HKUST highlights the potential for destruction caused by heavy rain, posing immediate threats to citizen safety and urban infrastructure. The cross-university research team strongly advocates for enhanced disaster preparedness, integration of climate change considerations into policy, and effective allocation of resources.

Read more about the research: https://hkust.edu.hk/news/research-and-innovation/hkust-collaborative-research-predicts-hot-nights-increase-50-2040s