Hong Kong records second-rainiest July, with double the average rainfall and 20 amber rainstorm warnings issued

Hong Kong endured its second-rainiest July on record, as the city's observatory reported rainfall that more than doubled the monthly average. Rain fell on all but four days of the month, totaling 790.3 mm, according to the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO).

The HKO issued 20 amber rainstorm warnings and five red rainstorm warnings in July. No black rainstorm warnings were issued. This contrasts with the previous July, which saw 601.7 mm of rain, 14 amber warnings, seven red warnings, and one black warning.

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Last month, we saw a broad trough of low pressure, an active southerly airstream, and rainfall associated with tropical cyclones Maysak and Noul. As a result, Hong Kong’s weather throughout July was darker and wetter than usual.

According to the HKO, the unusually wet weather was caused by a broad trough of low pressure, an active southerly airstream, and rainfall associated with tropical cyclones Maysak and Noul. These conditions resulted in a darker and wetter July than typically experienced.

The observatory also warned earlier that the city might face record-breaking high temperatures in the coming years due to climate change and a forecasted "super-strong" El Niño event. El Niño typically brings abnormally high temperatures globally and can alter seasonal rainfall patterns, leading to either higher or lower than normal precipitation in some areas.

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According to the latest forecasts from multiple climate models, sea temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific will continue to rise, developing into an El Niño event in the summer and continuing until at least the beginning of next year.