June was warmer, sunnier and drier than usual, with the mean temperature of 28.6 degrees 0.8 of a degree above normal, the eighth highest for the month.

Total bright sunshine duration of 205.3 hours was about 27% above normal. Rainfall was 144.7mm, about 62% below normal. Accumulated rainfall since the beginning of the year was 693.4mm, 30% below normal for the same period.

The mean relative humidity of only 78% was also equal to the lowest record for June set in 1967, 1988 and 2000.

Very Hot Weather Warning issued

Under the influence of a southwesterly airstream, the weather was sunny and hot from the 18th to the 20th, the day the Very Hot Weather Warning was issued for the first time this year.

As a trough of low pressure formed over the coastal area, the weather deteriorated quickly that night with frequent thunderstorms and heavy showers. Unsettled weather continued on June 21 with over 70mm of rainfall on Lantau Island.

As the trough of low pressure dissipated, the weather improved on the 22nd and 23rd and there were sunny periods amid some showers. Apart from isolated showers, the weather was generally fine and hot over the next five days.

When Typhoon Mindulle moved towards Luzon Strait on the 29th, it became very hot in Hong Kong and the maximum temperature shot up to 34.2 degrees, the highest for the month. The weather remained very hot with some showers and thunderstorms on the 30th.