On May 29, 2026, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) cancelled the yellow rain warning after several hours of heavy rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures reaching a record high of 34.1 degrees. However, the forecast predicts more rain in the coming days, with the HKO warning of “a few thunderstorms” over the next two days. The cancellation followed a period of extreme weather, including flash flooding in areas like Sha Tin, where roads turned into “floating highways” and a bus station became a “music fountain.”
Meteorological Conditions Behind the Yellow Rain Warning
The HKO issued a yellow rain warning at 10:00 PM on May 29, citing a southward-moving rainband that brought heavy downpours and gusty winds. The warning was lifted at 11:30 PM, but not before widespread disruption. The observatory had earlier warned of “severe thunderstorms” starting at 4:00 PM, as a high-pressure system triggered rain across the Pearl River Delta. By 8:30 PM, the HKO issued a special weather alert, noting that “parts of Hong Kong could see heavy rain and thunderstorms for the next few hours.”
Official Explanation of the Warning and Temperature Records
According to a press release from the Hong Kong Observatory, the yellow rain warning was issued at 10:00 PM on May 29, “due to the southward movement of a rainband associated with a low-pressure system over the South China Sea.” The release stated that the warning was lifted at 11:30 PM after “rainfall intensity decreased significantly,” though it cautioned that “isolated thunderstorms may persist into the early hours of May 30.” The HKO also confirmed that the temperature reached 34.1°C at 3:00 PM on May 29, marking the highest temperature recorded in May since 2018, according to the Hong Kong Climate Observation Network.
Emergency Responses and Public Impact in Sha Tin
Emergency services responded to multiple incidents caused by the heavy rain. A police spokesperson confirmed that 12 incidents of flooding were reported in Sha Tin alone, with three vehicles stranded in waist-deep water. “Residents were advised to avoid low-lying areas, and traffic police were deployed to manage congestion,” the spokesperson said in a statement. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department also reported assisting two individuals trapped in a submerged vehicle near the Sha Tin Station, though both were rescued without injury.
Local residents described the chaos caused by the storms. “The roads were completely underwater by 8:00 PM,” said Wong Chi-fung, a 45-year-old shop owner in Sha Tin. “Our store’s basement flooded, and we had to use buckets to pump out the water. The bus station turned into a pond—people were walking through it like it was a swimming pool.” Another resident, Li Ming, shared a video on social media showing a bus station plaza submerged under a torrent of water, with pedestrians wading through ankle-deep puddles. The video, which garnered over 100,000 views on the messaging app Telegram, was later cited by the HKO in its analysis of the storm’s impact.
Scientific Analysis of the Storm’s Causes and Climate Change Considerations
The Hong Kong Metropolitan University’s Department of Environmental Science released a preliminary report on the weather event, attributing the extreme rainfall to “an unusual convergence of monsoonal moisture and a stalled high-pressure system over the South China Sea.” The report noted that “the combination of high temperatures and heavy precipitation created a volatile atmosphere, increasing the likelihood of thunderstorms.” However, the study also highlighted that “the frequency and intensity of such events may be influenced by climate change, though further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.”
Despite the cancellation of the yellow rain warning, the HKO reiterated its caution for the following days. In a press briefing on May 30, senior meteorologist Chan Yiu-keung stated, “We are monitoring a new weather system that could bring scattered thunderstorms to Hong Kong on May 31 and June 1. While the rainfall is not expected to reach the same intensity as yesterday, residents should remain vigilant.” The HKO also issued a “general weather advisory” for the next 48 hours, warning of “sudden downpours and gust