The US faces contrasting weather extremes: unseasonal snow in the western US due to a strong cold front, and an impending heatwave in the northeast, with temperatures potentially reaching record highs over the Fourth of July weekend.
Utah's governor declared a state of emergency and restricted fireworks due to the "unprecedented" Cottonwood Fire, the largest in the US. Fueled by extreme heat, dry conditions, and 45 mph winds, the blaze has burned over 112 sq miles, damaging a ski resort and forcing evacuations.
Severe thunderstorms caused widespread destruction in the Balkans last week, with high winds and golf ball-sized hail damaging over 100 buildings in Slovenia and Croatia. Meanwhile, Hong Kong issued a black rainstorm warning due to heavy rainfall and flooding, and France is experiencing an unusual heatwave.
Hong Kong is expected to experience thunderstorms on Sunday as a cold front sweeps across the Guangdong coast, bringing temperatures down to around 21°C (69.8°F) by Monday morning. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the forecast on Saturday, warning that weather will deteriorate late Sunday with showers increasing and becoming heavier in some areas.
A cold front and upper-air disturbances will bring heavy showers to Hong Kong on Wednesday, followed by temperatures dropping to around 20°C in urban areas on Thursday morning, with the New Territories expected to be a couple of degrees colder. The Hong Kong Observatory advises the public to be aware of the weather change, while another trough of low pressure is forecast to affect southern China from the weekend.
Hong Kong's Observatory has issued special alerts warning of intense thundery showers and gusts affecting the Pearl River Delta region on Thursday evening. Temperatures are expected to drop from 23°C to 19°C by Friday under the influence of a cold front and northern monsoon, with occasional heavy showers and squally thunderstorms forecast.
Hong Kong is set to experience a dramatic weather shift this week as a cold front sweeps across the South China coast, bringing squally thunderstorms and a nine-degree temperature plunge. After unseasonably hot weather on Wednesday with temperatures reaching 30°C, the mercury will drop to 21°C on Friday, according to the city's Observatory.
