Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O has experienced the highest cumulative rainfall in China so far this year, with 2,397mm (94.37 inches) recorded in the first 7½ months, topping a chart from the national meteorological centre.
But Leung Wing-mo, former assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory, said on Thursday that while southern China was more prone to heavy rainfall under the influence of a southwestern monsoon, the exact pattern was highly arbitrary.
“There is no special reason. Heavy rainfall is purely random. This time it is Tseung Kwan O; next time, it will be elsewhere,” he said.
“Over the past three decades, various parts of Hong Kong have reported record-breaking rainfall.”
On Sunday, the national weather forecaster released a chart on its social media account, highlighting the top 10 areas in China where the highest rainfalls were recorded between January and August 16 this year.
According to the ranking, Tseung Kwan O was followed by Fogang in Guangdong province with 2,172mm and Yingde with 2,051mm.