Due to higher than normal sea surface temperatures over the northern part of the South China Sea and stronger than average southwesterly flows in the lower atmosphere over China's southern coast, August was much hotter than usual in the city, the Hong Kong Observatory said today.

The mean temperature for the month was 29.7 degrees Celsius, while the mean minimum temperature was 27.8 degrees Celsius, both figures registering as the highest on record for August.

Meanwhile, the mean maximum was 32.4 degrees Celsius, equalling the second-highest figure on record for August.

Together with the exceptionally hot weather in June and July, Hong Kong experienced its hottest summer on record from June to August, with a record-breaking high mean temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius.

The mean maximum temperature of 32.4 degrees Celsius and mean minimum temperature of 27.6 degrees Celsius were both the second highest on record for the same period.

August was also much drier than usual, with only 140.7 mm of rainfall, about 31% of the normal amount. The accumulated rainfall recorded in the first eight months of the year was 1,157.2 mm, about 40% below normal for the period.

Seven tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in August.