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The Weather of June 2008

    The weather of June 2008 was marked by heavy rain and squally thunderstorms. The monthly total rainfall was 1346.1 millimetres, about three times the monthly normal figure of 388.1 millimetres. This is a new monthly rainfall record for all months of the year since 1884, the previous record being 1241.1 millimetres in May 1889. The accumulated rainfall since 1 January was 1911.0 millimetres, about 80 percent above the normal figure of 1054.7 millimetres for the same period. Due to the rainy condition, the month only recorded 75.5 hours of sunshine, the lowest in June on record. The month was also cooler than usual. The mean temperature was 26.7 degrees, 1.2 degrees below the normal figure of 27.9 degrees.

    Under the influence of an active trough of low pressure, the weather in Hong Kong was cloudy with occasional heavy rain and squally thunderstorms for the first seven days of the month. The daily total rainfall of 307.1 millimetres recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory on 7 June was the fifth highest daily rainfall in June on record. With the weakening of the trough of low pressure, the rain eased off and there were some sunny periods for the next couple of days.

    Affected by the southerly airstream, it was mainly cloudy with a few showers from 10 to 12 June. Another active trough of low pressure lingering over the south China coastal areas brought heavy rain and squally thunderstorms to the territory from 13 to 18 June. The trough of low pressure dissipated on 19 June and there were some sunny periods during the day. Under the influence of a ridge of high pressure over the south China coast, it became sunny and hot for the next four days. The temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to a maximum of 32.9 degrees on 20 June, the highest of the month.

    With Typhoon Fengshen approaching the coast of Guangdong on 24 June, the weather became showery and winds started to pick up in the evening. Fengshen passed to the east of Hong Kong and made landfall over eastern Shenzhen on the early morning of 25 June. Local winds were generally strong and occasionally up to gale force during the day. Fengshen also brought heavy downpour to the territory on that day. When Fengshen moved further inland and weakened at night, local winds moderated gradually. The remnant of Fengshen and an active southwesterly airstream continued to bring periods of heavy rain to the territory for the rest of the month.

    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 summarized in Tables 1.1 to 1.7.  Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for June are tabulated in Table 2.


 

Warnings and Signals issued in June 2008


Table 1.1   Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals

Name of
Tropical Cyclone		 Signal
Number		 Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
FENGSHEN 1 23 / 6 0740 24 / 6 1640
3 24 / 6 1640 24 / 6 2245
8 NE 24 / 6 2245 25 / 6 0045
8 NW 25 / 6 0045 25 / 6 0545
8 SW 25 / 6 0545 25 / 6 1115
3 25 / 6 1115 25 / 6 2215


Table 1.2   Strong Monsoon Signal

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
6 / 6 1155 6 / 6 1355
13 / 6 0815 14 / 6 0015
17 / 6 1915 18 / 6 0045


Table 1.3   Rainstorm Warning Signals

Colour Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
Amber 3 / 6 1835 3 / 6 2010
Amber 6 / 6 1320 6 / 6 1610
Amber 7 / 6 0515 7 / 6 0555
Red 7 / 6 0555 7 / 6 0640
Black 7 / 6 0640 7 / 6 1100
Red 7 / 6 1100 7 / 6 1130
Amber 7 / 6 1130 7 / 6 1330
Amber 13 / 6 2140 13 / 6 2215
Red 13 / 6 2215 14 / 6 0250
Amber 14 / 6 0250 14 / 6 0410
Amber 25 / 6 0515 25 / 6 0600
Red 25 / 6 0600 25 / 6 1010
Amber 25 / 6 1010 25 / 6 1220
Amber 26 / 6 0830 26 / 6 0850
Red 26 / 6 0850 26 / 6 1000


Table 1.4   Landslip Warning

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
7 / 6 0110 8 / 6 1200
13 / 6 2300 14 / 6 1845
25 / 6 0810 25 / 6 2145


Table 1.5   Thunderstorm Warning

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
1 / 6 0315 1 / 6 0715
2 / 6 0330 2 / 6 0930
2 / 6 1420 2 / 6 1715
3 / 6 0855 3 / 6 1000
3 / 6 1215 3 / 6 2030
4 / 6 0825 4 / 6 1000
4 / 6 1440 4 / 6 1600
5 / 6 1355 5 / 6 1630
6 / 6 1113 6 / 6 1430
7 / 6 0355 7 / 6 1400
7 / 6 1440 7 / 6 2145
8 / 6 0215 8 / 6 0400
8 / 6 0815 8 / 6 1015
8 / 6 1115 8 / 6 1215
9 / 6 0645 9 / 6 0745
11 / 6 0540 11 / 6 0930
11 / 6 1305 11 / 6 1400
12 / 6 0010 12 / 6 0115
12 / 6 0355 12 / 6 0750
12 / 6 1235 12 / 6 1330
12 / 6 2010 13 / 6 0600
13 / 6 0850 14 / 6 0930
14 / 6 1015 14 / 6 1115
14 / 6 2215 14 / 6 2315
15 / 6 0215 15 / 6 0800
15 / 6 1145 15 / 6 1345
16 / 6 0536 16 / 6 1130
16 / 6 1307 16 / 6 1515
16 / 6 1630 17 / 6 0930
17 / 6 1615 17 / 6 1945
18 / 6 1035 18 / 6 1200
18 / 6 1430 19 / 6 0445
25 / 6 0625 25 / 6 1030
25 / 6 1420 25 / 6 1515
26 / 6 0600 26 / 6 1200
26 / 6 2235 27 / 6 0730
27 / 6 0830 27 / 6 1030
28 / 6 0520 28 / 6 1900
29 / 6 0540 29 / 6 1215
29 / 6 1820 29 / 6 1945
30 / 6 0330 30 / 6 0600
30 / 6 0745 30 / 6 1015
30 / 6 1525 30 / 6 1600


Table 1.6   Very Hot Weather Warning

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
21 / 6 0630 23 / 6 1640


Table 1.7   Special Announcement on Flooding
in the Northern New Territories

Beginning Time Ending Time
Day/Month HKT Day/Month HKT
25 / 6 0635 25 / 6 1250


Table 2   Figures and Departures from Normal - June 2008

Meteorological Element Figure of the Month Departure from Normal*
Mean Daily Maximum Air Temperature 28.9 degrees C 1.5 degrees below normal
Mean Air Temperature 26.7 degrees C 1.2 degrees below normal
Mean Daily Minimum Air Temperature 24.8 degrees C 1.3 degrees below normal
Mean Dew Point Temperature 24.4 degrees C 0.2 degree below normal
Mean Relative Humidity 88 % 6 % above normal
Mean Cloud Amount 81 % 5 % above normal
Total Rainfall 1346.1 mm 958.0 mm above normal
Number of hours of Reduced VisibilityΔ 13 hours 9.9 hours below normal§
Total Bright Sunshine Duration 75.5 hours 82.8 hours below normal
Mean Daily Global Solar Radiation 10.60 Megajoule / square metre 4.71 Megajoule below normal
Total Evaporation 103.7 mm^ 25.3 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 and visibility which was observed at the Hong Kong International Airport.
  Δ

The visibility readings at the Hong Kong International Airport are based on hourly observations by professional meteorological observers in 2004 and before, and average readings over the 10-minute period before the clock hour of the visibility meter near the middle of the south runway from 2005 onwards. The change of the data source in 2005 is an improvement of the visibility assessment using instrumented observations following the international trend.
Before 10 October 2007, the number of hours of reduced visibility at the Hong Kong International Airport in 2005 and thereafter displayed in this web page was based on hourly visibility observations by professional meteorological observers. Since 10 October 2007, the data have been revised using the average visibility readings over the 10-minute period before the clock hour, as recorded by the visibility meter near the middle of the south runway.


  *   Departure from 1971 - 2000 climatological normal, except for number of hours of reduced visibility

  §   Departure from mean value between 1997 and 2007

  ^  Total for 27 days
daily values of selected meteorological elements for HK for June 2008

Extract of Meteorological Observations in Hong Kong for June 2008