Driest August in Hong Kong for 23 years as twin typhoons bring scorching temperatures of up to 37.8 degrees

Hong Kong sweltered through one of its hottest, driest Augusts on record last month, as twin typhoons brought scorching temperatures and minimal precipitation to the city.

Last month saw the lowest rainfall in August for 23 years, as just 143.3mm of rain fell in the city, less than a third of the monthly average. Usually August is the wettest month of the year, with rainfall measuring 432.2mm on average.

The last time rainfall dropped below 140mm in August was in 1992, when only 97.7mm fell across the city. According to the Observatory, this year ranks as the 10th driest August on record.

At the same time, the mercury soared in town as the average temperature hit 29.3 degrees Celsius, the seventh-hottest August on record for the city.