August was hotter and drier than usual. The mean temperature was 29.4 degrees, one degree above the normal of 28.4 degrees. There were 14 very hot days, making it the hottest August since 1963. The mean minimum temperature of 27.7 degrees was the highest for August since records began.

The total rainfall of 334.1 millimetres in the month was about 25% below the normal 444.6 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 1,541 millimetres, about 18% below the normal 1,873.7 millimetres for the same period.

Under the influence of a ridge of high pressure, local weather was sunny for the first day of the month. Affected by the subsidence air mass associated with a tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea, it was very hot on August 2 and 3.  Temperatures recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to a maximum of 34.9 degrees on August 3 - the highest of the month. 

Two storms named

The tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea intensified into a tropical storm and was named Goni on August 3. It brought squally showers and thunderstorms that afternoon. Goni intensified into a severe tropical storm while edging towards the coast of Guangdong on August 4.

Local winds strengthened and there were squally showers on that day. Gale force winds with maximum gusts up to 85 kilometres per hour were recorded at Cheung Chau that evening. Goni made landfall over the coast of western Guangdong and weakened gradually the next day. Its outer rainbands continued to bring showers to Hong Kong on August 5 and 6.

Meanwhile, Morakot gained typhoon intensity over the western North Pacific and tracked westward in the generally direction of Taiwan on August 5 and 6. Under the influence of the subsidence air mass associated with Morakot, the weather in Hong Kong became fine and very hot for the next three days.

A trough of low pressure developed over the south China coastal areas on August 10 and brought thundery showers to the territory from August 10 to 14. A ridge of high pressure turned local weather mainly fine for the next two days. 

18 very hot weather warnings

Another trough of low pressure developed over the western coast of Guangdong and brought mainly cloudy weather with a few showers to the territory on August 17 and 18. A weak ridge of high pressure brought generally fine and very hot conditions apart from a few isolated showers and thunderstorms to Hong Kong for the rest of the month.

Seven tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month and very hot weather warnings were issued for 18 days.