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June 2003 was wetter than usual. The monthly rainfall of 523.5 millimetres was about 39 per cent above the normal figure of 376.0 millimetres. However, the accumulated rainfall since the beginning of the year was 932.4 millimetres, still about 6 per cent below the normal figure of 992.5 millimetres for the same period.

Under the influence of a dry continental airstream, the weather was fine in the first two days of the month. An area of low pressure intensified into a tropical storm over the South China Sea and was named Nangka on June 1. Nangka moved northeast across Luzon Strait into the western Pacific and did not pose any threat to Hong Kong. The weather remained generally fine from June 3 to 5.

A trough of low pressure over southern China moved towards the coast on June 6 and marked the start of an episode of unsettled weather for the next 10 days. During the thunderstorms on June 7, lightning struck a construction site in Shatin and killed two workers. The Amber Rainstorm Warning was issued on June 9, 10, 13 and 14. Over 100 millimetres of rainfall was recorded on June 9 and 11. There were 12 and 64 reports of flooding on June 9 and 11 respectively.

The weather improved on June 17 when the trough of low pressure dissipated. It was sunny for the next two days. With prolonged sunshine, the temperature rose to 33.3 degrees on June 19, the highest in the month. A moist southerly airstream set in on June 20 and brought showery weather to the coastal area in the next two days. The showers eased off and the weather became fine and hot on June 23 and 24. The Very Hot Weather Warning was issued on June 24, the first time in 2003.

The southwest monsoon set in and showery weather prevailed between June 25 and 28. The strong southwesterlies also necessitated the issuance of the Strong Monsoon Signal on June 26 and 27. A ridge of high pressure established over the southeastern part of China on June 29 and the weather became mainly fine for the rest of the month.

A total of two tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month. Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1.1(pdf format). Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal of June are shown in Table 1.2 (pdf format).

End/Monday, July 7, 2003

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