A hot June
**********

    June was warmer than usual. The mean temperature of 28.4 degrees was 0.6 degrees above normal.  It was also slightly wetter month with 490.1 millimetres of rain, about 30% above normal.  The accumulated rainfall since the beginning of the year is 968 millimetres, about 2% below normal.

     Under the influence of a southwesterly airstream, it was mainly fine and hot apart from a few showers on the first five days of the month.  

     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 nine days. Severe gusts with speeds reaching 129 kilometres per hour were recorded at the Hong Kong International Airport on the morning of June 8 when squally thunderstorms affected the territory.  A helicopter of the Government Flying Service that parked on the apron was toppled in the gusty winds.  On June 10, a squall line swept across Hong Kong from northwest to southeast in the early morning, bringing severe gusts and heavy showers.  Peak gusts of more than 120 kilometres per hour were recorded at Tai O.  Heavy rain during the day brought more than 100 millimetres of rainfall to most parts of the territory.  There were seven reports of flooding and about 100 reports of fallen trees.

     Showers subsided gradually on June 16 and 17 when the trough of low pressure dissipated.   A ridge of high pressure established over the southern China on June 18.   Apart from a few showers, it was fine and hot in the ensuing eight days.  With abundant sunshine, the maximum temperature rose to 33.5 degrees on June 22 and again on June 26, the highest of the month.

     The weather became rainy with thunderstorms on June 27 and 28 when Hong Kong came under the influence of an active southerly airstream.  A trough of low pressure developed over the south China coastal areas and brought scattered showers to the territory on the last two days 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 the month are summarised in Table 1.1.  Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal of June are tabulated in Table 1.2.


Ends/Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:31

NNNN