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With the monthly mean temperature reaching 29.0 degrees, June 2014 was the hottest June in Hong Kong since records began in 1884. The monthly mean minimum temperature of 27.0 degrees and mean maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees were respectively the second and the third highest for June. Such high temperatures were attained despite the fact that the month's sunshine duration and rainfall were not far from normal. The total rainfall for the month was 436.6 millimetres, about four per cent below the normal figure of 456.1 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 of 1503.4 millimetres was about 37 per cent above the normal figure of 1096.9 millimetres for the same period.
Under the dominance of an anticyclone, the weather in Hong Kong was mainly fine and very hot for the first two days of the month. Affected by a trough of low pressure, it turned cloudy with some showers and isolated thunderstorms on June 3. With the trough of low pressure pushed back towards the Mainland area of Guangdong, fine and hot weather returned on June 4 apart from a few morning showers. However, the lingering presence of the trough continued to bring a mixture of sunshine and thundery showers to the territory in the next four days.
With the setting in of a fresh easterly airstream, showers and thunderstorms gradually eased off on June 9 and there were sunny intervals during the days on June 10 and 11. Under the influence of a dry continental airstream, local weather remained mostly fine and dry for the ensuing three days.
While Hong Kong experienced a very hot day on June 14, a tropical depression formed over the northeastern part of the South China Sea and intensified into a tropical storm named Hagibis. Tracking generally northwards, Hagibis made landfall near Shantou on the afternoon on June 15 and weakened into a tropical depression that night. Affected by the rainbands of Hagibis, local weather was cloudy with some showers on June 15.
A southwest monsoon then maintained generally hot weather with sunny periods and thundery showers over the next five days. As another trough of low pressure lingered along the south China coast, the weather in Hong Kong became even more unsettled with occasional heavy showers and squally thunderstorms from June 21 to 25. The showers were particularly heavy on the morning of June 22. Rainfall exceeded 70 millimetres over widespread areas and more than 150 millimetres were recorded at Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, the eastern part of Lantau Island and the western part of Hong Kong Island.
With an anticyclone establishing itself over southern China, sunny and very hot weather returned from June 26 to 28. Temperatures recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to a maximum of 33.7 degrees on June 27, the highest of the month. Affected by a broad trough of low pressure over the coast of Guangdong and the northern part of the South China Sea, there were sunny periods with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms on the last two days of the month.
Two tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in the month.
Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Tables 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for June are tabulated in Table 2.
Ends/Thursday, July 3, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:46
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