With all 12 months warmer than usual, 2023 was among the second warmest years on record, with the annual mean temperature reaching 24.5 degrees Celsius, 1.0 degree above the 1991-2020 normal, the Hong Kong Observatory said today.
 

The annual mean minimum temperature of 22.6 degrees was equal to the highest since records began in 1884, while the annual mean maximum temperature of 27.2 degrees was equal to the second highest.
 

Notably, the mean temperature for summer reached 29.7 degrees, the highest on record.
 

The highest temperature recorded in the year, on July 27, was 36.1 degrees, which ranked among the third highest data points on record. There were 54 very hot days last year, equal to the highest previous totals on record.
 

The lowest temperature recorded in the year was 8.1 degrees, on December 23. The number of cold days in the year was 14 days, 1.2 fewer than normal.
 

Mainly owing to record-breaking autumn rainfall, total rainfall in 2023 was 2,774.5 mm, about 14% above the normal. Eight red rainstorm warnings and two black rainstorm warnings were issued by the Observatory in the year.
 

Meanwhile, five tropical cyclone warning signals were issued. The Observatory issued Hurricane Signal No. 10 during the passage of Saola in September, the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9 during the passage of Koinu in October and the Gale or Storm Signal No. 8 during the passage of Talim in July.