May was drier than usual, with a monthly rainfall of 81.6mm, which was only about 28% of the norm, the Hong Kong Observatory said today.

The accumulated rainfall recorded in the first five months of the year was 207.1mm, about 35% of the norm for the same period and the eighth lowest on record for the same period.

Moreover, the month was hotter than usual. The monthly mean minimum temperature of 25.5 degrees Celsius, monthly mean maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius and monthly mean temperature of 27.2 degrees Celsius were above their corresponding norms and were respectively one of the eighth, the ninth and the 10th highest on record for May.

The spring of this year from March to May was also warmer than usual. The mean maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius and mean temperature of 23.7 degrees Celsius were one of the fifth and one of the eighth highest on record for the same period.

A cold front moved across the coast of Guangdong and the temperature in the city dropped to 21 degrees Celsius on May 11, the lowest of the month. Temperatures rose to a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius on May 22, the highest of the month, under the influence of an anticyclone.

There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in May, the observatory added.