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Up to midday today (June 27), the total rainfall recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory in June 2008 has reached 1216.3 millimetres, breaking the previous record of 1083.6 millimetres set in June 2001.
Another 30 millimetres of rainfall in the remaining days of the month would make June 2008 the month with the all-time-high rainfall record.
The highest monthly rainfall recorded for all months of the year was 1241.1 millimetres in May 1889 (since records began in 1884).
The accumulated rainfall since January 1 this year up to midday today was 1781.2 millimetres, about 69% above the normal figure of 1054.7 millimetres for the first six months of a year.
The rain episodes in the first half of this month were mainly due to the strong southwesterlies over the south China coastal areas. In
particular, the heavy rain on June 7 brought a daily rainfall of 307.1
millimetres, the fifth highest daily rainfall in June on record. For
the sake of comparison, the daily rainfall on June 7 was about 70
millimetres more than that recorded on June 18, 1972, when Hong Kong
suffered from the most severe landslides in its history.
The rainfall in the second half of the month was mainly related to
Typhoon Fengshen and its remnant. The slow movement of Fengshen and
its remnant over south China after making landfall brought almost
continuous heavy rain to Hong Kong in the past few days.
Rank Monthly Rainfall (mm) Date of Record
1 1241.1 May 1889
2 1216.3 Jun 2008 *
3 1147.2 Jul 1994
4 1090.1 Aug 1995
5 1083.6 Jun 2001
6 971.3 Aug 2005
7 962.9 Jun 1966
8 913.7 Jun 1959
9 894.2 May 1957
10 893.9 Jun 2005
*Up to noon on June 27, 2008
The 10 Highest Monthly Total Rainfalls at the Hong Kong Observatory (Recorded since March 1, 1884, excluding 1940-1946)
Ends/Friday, June 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:05
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