August was cloudier and wetter than usual, with the monthly mean cloud amount and monthly rainfall 8% and 25% higher than normal, the Hong Kong Observatory says.

Total bright sunshine duration was only 134.3 hours, the second lowest for August. The monthly mean cloud amount was 74% while monthly rainfall was 488.4mm. Accumulated rainfall for the year was 1,533.3mm, about 10% below normal.

It was fine and very hot on the first four days of the month. With plenty of sunshine temperature rose to 35.3 degrees Celsius on August 3, the highest for the month.

The outer rainband of a tropical storm over the South China Sea brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to the city on August 5 and heavy showers on August 6, with more than 70mm recorded in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. It was partly sunny with showers on August 7.

Storm surprise

With the approach of severe tropical storm Pabuk local weather turned rainy on August 8. While weakening into a tropical depression, Pabuk passed south of Hong Kong on August 9, bringing strong winds and heavy showers. Local winds subsided that afternoon when Pabuk moved west away from Hong Kong.

After changing course, Pabuk accelerated towards Hong Kong and intensified into a tropical storm on August 10. It brought gale winds to the western part of Hong Kong and offshore waters.

An active southwest monsoon set in after Pabuk dissipated on August 11, and the weather was showery until August 13. A trough of low pressure over the south China coast brought occasional heavy rain to Hong Kong August 14 to 16. The weather improved gradually the next day when the trough dissipated. Apart from a few isolated showers it was mainly fine but hazy on August 18 and 19.

Showery weather returned on August 20 when the south China coast came under the influence of a fresh southwesterly airstream. The weather stayed cloudy with some showers in the ensuing three days. The southwesterly airstream gave way to an easterly airstream on August 24. There were sunny periods and a few showers from August 25 to 28. A weak ridge of high pressure over southeastern China brought fine and clear weather to Hong Kong August 29 to 31.