People use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun in Hong Kong on Sept 16, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong was exceptionally hot in September 2022 with much sunnier weather than usual, the Hong Kong Observatory said on Wednesday.

There were three days with daily maximum temperatures at the HKO equal to or higher than 35.0 degrees in the month, the highest number on record for September

The monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures were 32.7 degrees Celsius and 27.3 degrees respectively, 2.2 degrees and 1.2 degrees higher than their corresponding normal readings. The mean temperature was 27.3 degrees, 1.7 degrees above its normal level.

All of the three figures were the second highest on record for September, the HKO added.

There were three days with daily maximum temperatures at the HKO equal to or higher than 35.0 degrees in the month, the highest number on record for September.

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Meanwhile, the total duration of bright sunshine of 237.4 hours in the month was about 36 percent higher than the normal of 174.4 hours and the eighth highest on record for September.

With plenty of sunshine, the maximum temperature at the HKO soared to 35.9 degrees on Sept 13, the highest of the month and the highest maximum temperature for September on record.

The month was also drier than usual, with a monthly rainfall of only 171.2 millimeters, about 53 percent of the normal of 321.4 mm

The daily mean temperature at the HKO reached 31.7 degrees on Sept 13 and 14, the highest on record for September. The daily minimum temperature of 29.6 degrees on Sept 14 was also the highest on record for September, the HKO said.

The month was also drier than usual, with a monthly rainfall of only 171.2 millimeters, about 53 percent of the normal of 321.4 mm.

The accumulated rainfall this year up to September was 1,999.0 mm, about 11 percent lower than the normal figure of 2,242.8 millimeters for the same period.

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Eight tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in September, the HKO added.