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On rainfall, the first half of the year was particularly dry with total rainfall amounting to only 556.9 millimetres, 44 per cent below normal.

However, record-breaking rainfall in July contributed to an overall annual total of 2,725.6 millimetres, 23 per cent above the annual mean of 2,214.3 millimetres.

Only four tropical cyclones necessitated the hoisting of local Tropical Cyclone Warning signals as compared to the annual average figure of about six.

With relatively few outbreaks of cold continental air towards the South China coastal areas, January 1994 was unusually warm and humid in Hong Kong.

Despite the high humidity, only traces of rainfall were recorded at the Royal Observatory. This made the month one of the six second-driest months of January on record.

February continued mild with high humidity. The monthly mean minimum temperature of 15.7 degrees and monthly mean dew-point temperature of 14.4 degrees were respectively the seventh and the sixth highest for February. The first thunderstorm of the year occurred during the month.

Frequent late-season monsoon surges made March cooler and cloudier than normal. The monthly mean pressure of 1,018.5 hectopascals was the fifth highest on record. It was also relatively dry both in terms of humidity and precipitation.

With a monthly rainfall of only 6.0 millimetres, April 1994 was the driest April. since records began in 1884. It was also the warmest April on record. The mean air temperature of 24.7 degrees, the mean daily maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees and the mean daily minimum temperature of 22.8 degrees were all the highest values for April.

May was on the whole hot and dry. With more sunshine than normal, the monthly mean temperature of 27.4 degrees ranked the fourth highest for May. Monsoon troughs affected the territory occasionally, bringing 183.7 millimetres of rainfall, about 58 percent of the monthly normal.

Under the influence of warm southwest monsoon, June was cloudier and warmer than normal.

The total bright sunshine amounted to 107.8 hours which was the seventh lowest on record. Severe Tropical Storm Russ became the first tropical cyclone in the year which necessitated the hoisting of local warning signals.

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