Skip Content

The Weather of June 2003

    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 percent 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 1 June. 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 3 to 5 June.

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

   The weather improved on 17 June 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 19 June, the highest in the month. A moist southerly airstream set in on 20 June 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 23 and 24 June. The Very Hot Weather Warning was issued on 24 June, the first time in 2003.

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

    A total of 2 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 summarized in Tables 1.1 to 1.4.  Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for June are tabulated in Table 2.


 

Warnings and Signals issued in June 2003


Table 1.1   Strong Monsoon Signal

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
26 / 6 0940 26 / 6 1530
27 / 6 0600 27 / 6 1945


Table 1.2   Rainstorm Warning Signals

Colour Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
Amber 9 / 6 0905 9 / 6 1630
Amber 10 / 6 0845 10 / 6 1040
Amber 10 / 6 2020 10 / 6 2205
Amber 10 / 6 2330 11 / 6 1420
Amber 13 / 6 1610 13 / 6 1810
Amber 14 / 6 0900 14 / 6 1045


Table 1.3   Thunderstorm Warning

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
6 / 6 0920 6 / 6 1220
6 / 6 1735 6 / 6 2135
7 / 6 0745 7 / 6 1145
7 / 6 1515 7 / 6 1745
7 / 6 1910 7 / 6 2110
9 / 6 0150 9 / 6 1750
10 / 6 0320 10 / 6 1130
10 / 6 1215 10 / 6 1430
10 / 6 1915 11 / 6 1545
12 / 6 1230 12 / 6 1530
13 / 6 0550 13 / 6 1150
13 / 6 1440 13 / 6 2300
14 / 6 0305 14 / 6 1200
14 / 6 1700 14 / 6 1900
14 / 6 2030 14 / 6 2130
15 / 6 0342 15 / 6 0430
15 / 6 1205 15 / 6 1730
15 / 6 2135 16 / 6 0335
16 / 6 1010 16 / 6 1210
20 / 6 0730 20 / 6 0930
20 / 6 1240 20 / 6 1440
20 / 6 2359 21 / 6 0300
21 / 6 0720 21 / 6 0920
21 / 6 1030 21 / 6 1230
21 / 6 1650 21 / 6 2400
22 / 6 1235 22 / 6 1435
23 / 6 1145 23 / 6 1245
26 / 6 0645 26 / 6 0945
28 / 6 0050 28 / 6 0340
28 / 6 0710 28 / 6 0910
28 / 6 1242 28 / 6 1342


Table 1.4   Very Hot Weather Warning

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
24 / 6 0745 24 / 6 1600



Table 2   Figures and Departures from Normal - June 2003

Meteorological Element Figure of the Month Departure from Normal
Mean Daily Maximum Air Temperature 29.8 degrees C 0.5 degree below normal
Mean Air Temperature 27.7 degrees C 0.1 degree below normal
Mean Daily Minimum Air Temperature 26.0 degrees C 0.1 degree above normal
Mean Dew Point Temperature 24.0 degrees C 0.4 degree below normal
Mean Relative Humidity 81 % 1 % below normal
Mean Cloud Amount 74 % 1 % below normal
Total Rainfall 523.5 mm 147.5 mm above normal
Total Bright Sunshine Duration 127.4 hours 33.7 hours below normal
Mean Daily Global Solar Radiation 12.11 Megajoule / square metre 4.44 Megajoule below normal
Total Evaporation 105.5 mm 38.4 mm below normal


Remarks :   All measurements were made at the Hong Kong Observatory except sunshine, solar radiation and evaporation which were recorded at King's Park Meteorological Station.


daily values of selected meteorological elements for HK for June 2003

Extract of Meteorological Observations in Hong Kong for June 2003