The Weather of June 1997

    June 1997 was very wet with active troughs of low pressure affecting the south China coastal areas most of the month. The month's total rainfall of 783.6 millimetres was more than double the normal figure of 376.0 millimetres, also ranking the seventh highest for the month of June. Furthermore, the month's total bright sunshine duration of 99.7 hours was the sixth lowest for June.

    There were four days with rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres recorded at the Observatory on 3,4,13 and 16 June 1997. A Rainstorm Red Warning was issued on 4 June while Landslip Warnings and Flood Warnings were issued on three and eight occasions respectively. The accumulated rainfall since 1 January of 1 408.7 millimetres was 42 per cent above normal.

    The weather was generally cloudy with sunny periods on the first two days of the month. Temperatures rose to 32.1 degrees, the highest in the month, on 2 June.

    An active trough of low pressure formed over south China on 2 June, lingering over the coastal areas the next few days. Heavy rain and thunderstorms buffeted Hong Kong on 3 and 4 June. Floods occurred in many places especially in Kowloon and the Rainstorm Red Warning was issued on 4 June. Over 300 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in Kwai Chung. In a landslip in Kau Wa Keng Upper Village a four-year old boy was killed and five others were injured. Altogether there were 54 reports of floods and 31 reports of landslips in Hong Kong.

    Rain eased off on 5 June as the trough dissipated, but the weather remained cloudy with some isolated showers under the influence of a southwesterly airstream. Long sunny periods prevailed on 8 and 9 June.

    Another trough of low pressure moved southwards, passing the coast of Guangdong on 10 June and bringing isolated thunderstorms to Hong Kong. It was misty and hazy on 11 and 12 June. For the next week or so, the trough lingered over the northern part of the South China Sea and brought unsettled weather to the coastal areas. Heavy rain and thunderstorms affected Hong Kong on 13 June and early on 14 June. A minor landslip in Tsing Yi and several floods in urban areas were reported, injuring at least eleven persons.

    The weather remained gloomy on 15 June. Winds strengthened from the east late that evening but moderated the next day. Heavy showers returned on 16 and 17 June. More than 200 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in the eastern and southern parts of the Hong Kong Island on 17 June. A few floods were reported in Kowloon and the New Territories. Eleven persons were injured in weather-related incidents. Temperatures dropped to 22.3 degrees, the lowest in the month, on 18 June.

    Rain stopped on 19 June as the trough finally dissipated and there were brief sunny intervals the next couple of days. However, such conditions did not last long. Starting from 22 June, thunderstorms and heavy rain associated with another trough of low pressure again affected Hong Kong. Floods were again reported in Kowloon on 24 June and in Kowloon and the eastern New Territories on 26 June.

    Sunny periods came back on 27 and 28 June. However, thundery showers returned on 29 June, becoming heavy at times on 30 June.

    Three tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month.

    During the month, a total of thirty-one aircraft was diverted due to adverse weather.