The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) today announced that four to seven tropical cyclones are expected to hit the city this year, a figure considered near normal.

Presenting the annual weather outlook at a press briefing, HKO Director Chan Pak-wai said that the tropical cyclone season is likely to begin in June or later and conclude by October or earlier.

The annual mean temperature is forecast to be above normal, with a high chance of ranking among the top 10 warmest years on record. The HKO attributed the warmer conditions to the potential development of El Niño later this year and the ongoing trend of global climate warming.

Annual rainfall this year is expected to be near normal, ranging from 2,100mm to 2,700mm. However, Mr Chan stressed that Hong Kong could still face rainstorms and localised heavy rain, advising the public to remain prepared for the rain and tropical cyclone seasons.

To better address coastal flooding risks, the HKO will begin including forecast information on overtopping in its tropical cyclone warning bulletins. This addition aims to alert the public to specific coastal areas that may be impacted when significant overtopping waves are expected.

The HKO will also enhance its MyObservatory mobile application by progressively introducing trial location-specific weather information for cities in the Republic of Korea and Thailand in the second half of the year.

Additionally, to help the public manage hot and humid conditions, the HKO will expand Hong Kong Heat Index data on its website during the second quarter. The index, which accounts for temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation, will cover more districts across the territory.