People wearing winter coats and scarves walk on a street in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on Jan 8, 2021. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Observatory issued this year's first Cold Weather Warning at 4:20 pm on Saturday as the local weather is expected to remain cold in the next few days.

The observatory said the weather will turn cold over the coast of Guangdong under the influence of the winter monsoon associated with the cold front. 

The weather will be cloudy, rainy and windy on the Lunar New Year's Eve and the Lunar New Year holidays, the Hong Kong Observatory said

The minimum temperatures in the urban areas for Sunday morning will drop to around 12 degrees Celsius, the forecaster said in its latest weather bulletin.

READ MORE: HK observatory issues this winter's 1st cold weather warning

“It will be a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories and on high ground.”

The weather will be cloudy, rainy and windy on the Lunar New Year's Eve and the Lunar New Year holidays, it added.

The Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters for people in need. They will remain open during the daytime Sunday when the cold weather warning is still in force.

In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health reminded the public, particularly the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, to adopt appropriate measures to protect their health in view of the cold weather.

ALSO READ: Cold spell: HK records 7.7°C, -2.5°C on Tai Mo Shan

The government said the 14 community vaccination centers under the citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be closed from Monday to Feb 2

It warned that anyone who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death.

The CHP stressed the importance of receiving both seasonal flu vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, noting that influenza vaccination may reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and the length of stay.

The government said the 14 community vaccination centers under the citywide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be closed from Monday to Feb 2. 

Except for the two CVCs located at private hospitals which will resume their services on Feb 4, the other 12 CVCs will resume their services on Feb 3.