a number of boats which fail to reach the specially constructed typhoon shelters in time. Sixteen such disasters have occurred in the last sixty-five years. Spells of bad weather, heavy rain and strong winds, are normally experienced several times in each summer owing to the passage of typhoons at varying distances from the Colony.
The mean monthly temperature varies from 59°F in February to 82°F in July, the average for the year being 72°F. The temperature does not frequently rise above 95°F, and very seldom falls below 40°F. In spring and summer the humidity is persistently high, at times exceeding 95%, while in the early winter it may fall as low as 20%. The mean monthly duration of sunshine varies from 94 hours in March to 217 hours in October.
During the year rainfall was 13.48 inches above normal despite monthly totals above average only in April, June, July and September. Heavy falls during these last two months were mainly responsible for the year's excess.
智
On the whole the year was warmer than average with a mean temperature of 73.0°F as against the normal 71.9°F. Three 'new records were established. A maximum daily tem- perature of 84.3°F occurring on two days in March was the highest ever recorded for that month. În May the previous highest daily maximum was exceeded on three occasions, the new record being 91.9°F. Unusually warm weather was experienced in December when the mean temperature for the month was the highest since observation commenced in 1884.
Hong Kong was affected with gales for 7 hours in July when a small typhoon passed inland about 20 miles east of the Colony. In September another typhoon passing to the south caused sustained gales for 14 hours, the maximum hourly wind speed being 46 knots and the maximum gust 75 knots.
The total duration of sunshine was 85.9...hours, below normal.
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