Hong Kong Records Second Rainiest July as Heavy Rainfall Impacts Agriculture

Hong Kong experienced its second rainiest July on record, with total rainfall reaching 790.3 mm. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, this amount is double the normal July rainfall of 385.8 mm. Rain fell on all but four days during the month, resulting in the issuance of 20 amber rainstorm warnings and five red rainstorm warnings. The observatory attributed the wet weather to a broad trough of low pressure, an active southerly airstream, and tropical cyclones Maysak and Noul. The wettest July on record occurred in 1994 with 1,147.2 mm of rain.

The extreme weather has caused significant financial damage to the local agricultural sector. Farmers in Yuen Long reported six figure losses as frequent downpours flooded vegetable, melon, and sunflower fields. One farm owner reported a loss of 300,000 HKD after heavy rains impacted three batches of sunflowers grown between May and July. On a recent Sunday, some districts including North, Yuen Long, Tai Po, and Sai Kung recorded nearly 100 mm of rain between 6 am and 1 pm.

While the center left source focused on the meteorological data and the long term threat of a super strong El Niño event linked to climate change, the center right source framed the event through the lens of economic hardship and the specific losses suffered by local farmers.