Hiking has gained its popularity in Hong Kong in recent years. With more hiking activities, the associated accidents also increase. According to the Legislative Council’s “Statistical Highlights: Hill fires and accidents in country parks” report, 2024 saw 588 mountain search and rescue (MS&R) cases, leading to 345 injuries and 15 deaths. Notably, MS&R cases during inclement weather (such as rainstorms or tropical cyclone warning signal No. 3 and above) have risen significantly over the past six years, hitting 25 cases in 2024.
The weather is unpredictable during Hong Kong’s rainy season —always check the forecast before heading outdoors, and keep safety your top priority!
Before the Hike: Checking the Weather Forecast
Thunderstorms are common during Hong Kong’s summer months. If you are planning a hike, be sure to check the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) website or the “MyObservatory” mobile app before you head out. You can review their 9-Day Weather Forecast, as well as the “Hong Kong Hiking Trail Weather Service,” which provides 7-day hourly weather forecasts for the city’s main hiking trails.
Once you set off for the hike, check the HKO website or app regularly for weather update as weather conditions can change rapidly during summer. All mountain activities should be cancelled immediately once the thunderstorm warning is issued.
During the Hike: What to Do When a Thunderstorm Approaches
What should you do if thunderstorm warning is issued when you are out in the mountain? According to the Country Park Hiking Safety Guidelines from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“AFCD”), hikers should take the following actions should thunderstorm approach:
- Stay away from uphill and immediately get away from mountain ridges and streams
- Stay away from the highest point or objects that are highly conductive, such as trees, fences, masts or metals. Also aviod using mobile phone or umbrella
- If you carried metal objects with you, wrap them up with cloths or plastic bags
- Avoid staying in open areas and find indoor shelters as soon as possible
- Squat down instead of lie on the ground to minimise the area of contact with the ground surface.
On the Trail: How Far Away a Thunderstorm Is?
So how do we know how far is a thunderstorm from us? Lightning is always followed by thunder, according a rule of thumb from HKO’s article “Why does Lightning always Come before Thunder?“, by counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder and dividing the number by 3, you can estimate your distance from the thunderstorm in kilometers, for example:
- If you can see a flash but cannot hear any thunder, the thunderstorm is of a fair distance from you.
- If you hear the thunder 9 seconds after the flash, it means the lightning is approximately 3 kilometers away.
- If you see a flash and hear a thunder clap almost simultaneously, the storm must be very near you. Seek shelter immediately.
The HKO Lightning Location Information Service provides you with real-time lightning location, which will help you plan for the most appropriate action when you are in the mountains. Pay extra attention to weather conditions and have a safe and wonderful summer in the countryside!
Essential Hiking Apps
TrailWatch: Plan route, download offline map and track your hikes in real-time using GPS (iOS / Android)
MyObservatory: Remember to check the weather all the time (iOS / Android)
Read More about Hiking in Summer:
Hiking in Hot Weather: How to Plan Your Trip and Pack Your Bag
Hiking in Hot Weather: How to Prevent Heat-related illnesses