If you are planning an outdoor activity or just wondering if you should bring an umbrella to work tomorrow, the people you turn to first are weather forecasters.
Audiences regularly tune in to watch the Hong Kong Observatory's weather reports presented by qualified scientific officers.
Eunice Lee is one of them. To prepare for the broadcast she needs to multi-task. She must film, edit and transfer video to TV stations herself, all skills she learned after joining the observatory.
"I thought it was only the senior scientific officers who got to present the weather reports, not new recruits like me. I never knew there was so much to do behind the scenes," she said.
On air
Ms Lee was one of the first weather anchors the observatory trained after she started working at the department in 2011. She joined the "Weather On-Air" team to learn how to prepare and produce high definition TV weather programmes that are provided to local stations. She also received on-air coaching from Radio Television Hong Kong presenters.
"You need to imagine that someone you know is standing behind the camera. When you are facing the camera, you should present as if you are looking at the audience, to talk to the audience through the camera."
Ms Lee is not only an on-air presenter. She is also responsible for the weather forecast and issuing weather warnings. She is happy her career provides a sense of purpose.
"We understand that our work is of great service to people. For example, providing the Rainstorm Warning, the Tropical Cyclone Signal, Thunderstorm Warning, and so on, allows people to adjust their plans," Ms Lee said.
Never a dull day
Just as the weather is unpredictable, so is working at the observatory.
Scientific Officer Linus Yeung remembers the day Typhoon York hit Hong Kong in 1999. It was the first time in 16 years that the observatory issued the No. 10 warning - and it stayed up for 11 hours.
"I was young and new," Mr Yeung recalled. “I saw fallen trees along the road when I went to work that day. That was a busy day for us but we all worked together well."
During typhoons, the workload is much heavier as officers need to issue warnings and keep in constant contact with other Government departments, all while monitoring the typhoon’s movements.
"We are constantly data-crunching. From the start of our day to the time we clock off. We need to use our knowledge of physics or meteorology to analyse data and come up with a forecast."
Nature's wonders
Mr Yeung now presents an educational series called "Cool Met Stuff" along with several experienced Scientific Officers. The programme aims to help people understand weather science. He even wrote, directed and acted in an episode.
One of his most memorable episodes was when he witnessed the 'sea of clouds' weather phenomenon at Tai Mo Shan, in which the summit of Hong Kong's highest peak poked out of a mass of clouds swirling below it.
"I never knew that we could only witness the 'sea of clouds' in the spring and under special weather conditions. It is a rare phenomenon."
Mr Yeung said he learned about that wonder of nature from experienced photographers, even though he is supposed to be the weather professional.
The "Cool Met Stuff" series has received positive feedback which has encouraged him to continue. Mr Yeung hopes that through quality educational programmes he will be able to arouse people's interest in the weather around them.
