Climate zones in Hong Kong, 1991 to 2020
Share of Hong Kong's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 1,238 map cells used cover 95% of the country's outline (about 983 km²).
By major group: C (temperate) 100%.
Almost all of Hong Kong is one climate: Cwa, humid subtropical with dry winter, which covers 100% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020. In plain terms, humid subtropical with dry winter means hot, wet summers and dry, mild winters. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), 36% of its land is projected to be in a different zone by 2071 to 2099, with the biggest gain going to Am (tropical monsoon).
How Hong Kong's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 0% | 0% | No change | No change |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 0.2% | 0.2% | Am +0.2 percentage points | Cwa -0.2 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 36% | 36% | Am +35.8 percentage points | Cwa -36 percentage points |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 95% | 95% | Am +93.6 percentage points | Cwa -95.2 percentage points |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | 100% | 100% | 100% | 64% | 4.8% |
| Am Tropical monsoon | - | - | 0.2% | 36% | 94% |
| Aw Tropical savannah | - | - | - | 0.2% | 1.6% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in Hong Kong and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Am Tropical monsoon |
| New Territories | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter |
| Kowloon | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Am Tropical monsoon |
| Hong Kong Island | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter |
| Victoria | Cwa Humid subtropical with dry winter | Am Tropical monsoon |
Zones found in Hong Kong
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was Cwa. See data sources and licences.