September was hotter and drier than usual with the monthly mean temperature of 29 degrees Celsius equalling the record set in 1969. Total rainfall was 159.2mm, which was 128.3 millimetres below normal.

Accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 2,858.3mm, about 32% above the normal figure of 2,161.2mm for the same period.

The weather was mainly fine and hot on the first day of the month. Affected by a trough of low pressure over the south China coastal areas it was cloudy with showers September 2 to 4. A moist easterly airstream brought showery weather for the next two days. A weak ridge of high pressure over southern China brought mainly fine weather September 7 to 9.

Under the influence of a dry continental airstream over southern China it was sunny and dry September 10 to 17. A trough of low pressure developed over the northern part of the South China Sea and brought showers September 18.

Typhoon Hagupit formed over the western North Pacific the next day and moved west-southwestwards and then northwestwards over the following days.

Affected by the hot subsiding air ahead of Hagupit it was sunny and very hot September 20 to 22. The daily mean air temperature of 31.2 degrees recorded September 22 was a record for the month.

Hagupit entered the South China Sea September 22 and approached the south China coast at a high speed of some 30kph September 23. It was windy and rainy on September 23 and 24. Winds generally reached gale to storm force with 77.8mm of rainfall recorded over these days.

It remained cloudy with some isolated showers and thunderstorms September 25 and 26. Under the influence of a fresh easterly airstream over the coast of Guangdong it remained showery on September 27. A dry northerly airstream brought mainly fine and dry conditions on the last three days of the month.

Five tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in September.