HONG KONG -- The year 2024 was the hottest year on record for Hong Kong, with an annual mean temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius, data from the Hong Kong Observatory showed Wednesday.

Eleven months of 2024 were warmer than usual in Hong Kong, with the average monthly temperature hitting records in April and October, said Chan Pak-wai, director of the observatory.

The average minimum daily temperature and maximum temperature last year were the highest and second highest, respectively, since meteorological records were available in 1884.

The observatory forecast that this year will continue to be warmer than usual. The typhoon season could last from June to October with five to eight tropical cyclones approaching Hong Kong within the 500 km radius.

Rainfall throughout the year was estimated between 2,100 to 2,700 millimeters, according to the observatory.