This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.

Hong Kong is bracing for a sharp change in weather as a cold front and upper-air disturbances are set to bring heavy showers on Wednesday, followed by a sharp drop in temperature to as low as 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) on Thursday.

The Observatory said on Tuesday that showers would be “heavier at times” the following day, while a cold front was expected to move across the coast of southern China later on Wednesday, followed by a surge of the northeast monsoon.

“Upper-air disturbances will bring heavy showers and squally thunderstorms to Guangdong on Wednesday,” the forecaster said, adding that the trough of low pressure currently over central China would gradually develop into a cold front.

“Temperatures will fall progressively to a minimum of around 20 degrees in the urban areas on Thursday morning, and a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories. Members of the public are advised to be aware of the change in weather.”

The Observatory added that another trough of low pressure would affect southern China from the weekend to early next week, leading to unsettled weather.