The local observatory said yesterday that the temperature was set to dip “significantly” over the weekend, with the mercury early next week expected to drop to as low as about 10 degrees Celsius.
Yesterday’s statement by the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) pointed out that the weekend will usher in the strongest wave of cold air since the beginning of this winter, with the temperature in Guangdong province dropping significantly, together with rain and strong winds, adding that the lowest temperature in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) area was forecast to reach the official “cold” level, which ranges between 12 degrees Celsius and below.
Customarily, the government’s winter shelter in Ilha Verde district opens when the temperature falls to 12 degrees Celsius.
Air pressure is predicted to rise over northern China later in the week, which is a sign that cold air will strengthen and move south, according to the statement. It noted that the air pressure line in southern China will become tight starting from the weekend, indicating that the temperature will then drop and winds will strengthen significantly.
Regarding Macau’s daytime mercury having stood at or above 20 degrees Celsius so far this month, the statement quoted a report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) as saying that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, due to the more frequent extreme weather events.
According to the local weather station, the mercury will range between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius today, when relative humidity will be between 60 and 98 percent.
This image provided by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) yesterday shows its temperature forecasts from Thursday to Sunday.
