The total rainfall recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory so far in June has reached 1,216.3mm - breaking the previous record of 1,083.6mm set in June 2001.

Another 30mm of rainfall in the remaining days of the month would put June 2008 in the record books for having the all-time-high rainfall record.

Since records began in 1884, the highest monthly rainfall recorded for all months of the year was 1,241.1mm in May 1889.

The accumulated rainfall since January 1 this year was 1,781.2 millimetres, about 69% above the normal figure of 1,054.7mm for the first six months of a year.

The rain episodes in the first half of this month were mainly due to the strong southwesterlies over the south China coastal areas. In particular, the heavy rain on June 7 brought a daily rainfall of 307.1mm, the fifth-highest daily rainfall in June on record.