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June 2010 was gloomier and wetter than usual. The total duration of bright sunshine was 92.5 hours, only 58% of the normal figure of 158.3 hours and the sixth lowest on record. The total rainfall in the month was 474.9 millimetres, about 22% above the normal figure of 388.1 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 885.6 millimetres, about 16% below the normal figure of 1,054.7 millimetres for the same period. Due to gloomier and wetter weather, June 2010 was also cooler than usual. The mean temperature for the month was 27.1 degrees, about 0.8 degrees lower than normal.
Under the combined effect of a rather strong northeast monsoon over the south China coastal areas and a trough of low pressure over the northern part of the South China Sea, it was relatively cool with rain for the first three days of the month. Rain eased off with the moderation of the northeast monsoon on June 4. The weather turned fine apart from a few showers on June 5 when a ridge of high pressure established over the coast of southeast China. Weather remained generally fine for the ensuing three days.
With the approach of a trough of low pressure to the coast of Guangdong, local weather became unsettled with some heavy rain and a few squally thunderstorms on June 9 to 10. The rain eased off with sunny intervals on June 11 and 12 when the trough of low pressure left the coast and moved to the northern part of the South China Sea. The trough of low pressure shifted back towards the coast of Guangdong on June 13 and 14, bringing squally thunderstorms to the territory. With the trough of low pressure lingering over the coastal areas of Guangdong, local weather remained cloudy with showers for the following two days.
Affected by the southwest monsoon, the weather was hot with sunny periods apart from a few isolated showers from June 17 to 22. The southwest monsoon became active on June 23 and 24, bringing thundery showers to the territory. The rain eased off on June 25. Meanwhile, an active trough of low pressure developed over southern China and moved to the coastal areas of Guangdong, giving rise to heavy rain and squally thunderstorms from June 26 to 28. The rain was particularly heavy and persistent on June 26 with more than 150 millimeters of rainfall recorded in Kowloon and over parts of Lantau Island. With the westward extension of a ridge of high pressure over the Pacific, local weather became stable with sunny periods on June 29. It was mainly fine and hot on the last day of the month. The temperatures recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to a maximum of 32.7 degrees during the day, the highest of the month.
There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in the month.
Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in June are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from the norms of June are tabulated in Table 2.
Ends/Monday, July 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:48
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