Hong Kong's Weather
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate, There are, however, four distinct seasons. The ideal time for traveling in Hong Kong is from the end of September to early December, when the weather is warm, the air is dry and it seldom rains. The average temperatures can be slightly chilly, especially in the rural areas, so it is advisable to bring light woolens and sometimes a coat. The average temperature is 17°C (63°F), humidity 75 percent.
Temperatures and humidity rise abruptly in Spring from March to mid-May when average temperatures reach 23°C (74°F). In summer, which lasts until early September, temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) and humidity is consistently above 70 percent. Even when it doesn't rain you may quickly be dripping with sweat. Wear light clothes, but bring some long sleeves for the summer – not because it gets chilly in the evening but because many restaurants and shops have very effective air-conditioning.
About Hong Kong's Typhoons
From June to early September, it is not uncommon for Hong Kong to experience tropical storms or typhoons. If you are there at the time when a typhoon hits, you will find that virtually everything comes to a complete standstill. The Hong Kong Observatory has standard typhoon warnings that vary according to how close a typhoon is to Hong Kong. Usually, this begins with a typhoon number one signal, which may shortly escalate to a number three. When the number eight signal is raised, it means Hong Kong may suffer a direct hit. Schools, offices and shops close immediately and everyone goes home. A rare typhoon number ten is almost certain to mean serious damage, as the storm sweeps through the territory causing floods and sometimes deaths. Watching typhoon news bulletins can be dramatic and exciting but when everything closes you will be stuck for anything to do. Hotels, however do continue to operate. In fact, locals often go to hotel restaurants as they are the only places likely to be open during a typhoon. You are not advised to go outside during a typhoon as fatalites have been known to occur in both urban and rural areas, mainly due to objects and structures that fall in the strong winds.