THE ENVIRONMENT
associated change in atmospheric steering flow caused tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific to turn towards the north before entering the South China Sea. January was warmer than normal. It was warmer and sunnier than usual in February. A monthly mean temperature of 21.5 degrees made March the warmest March on record. The monthly total rainfall of 238.7 millimetres was more than three times the normal amount for the month.
April was warmer, sunnier and drier than usual. It was warmer and slightly drier than normal in May. Warmer weather continued into June with a mean temperature of 28.8 degrees, which ranked the second highest for June. The weather became cloudier than usual in July.
With the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri, the first Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal of the year was issued in early August. Kammuri missed Hong Kong and eventually made landfall near Shanwei. In mid-August, Severe Tropical Storm Vongfong moving across the South China Sea to the southwest of Hong Kong led to the issuance of the Standby Signal No. 1. August as a whole was slightly drier than normal.
It was rainy in September. The monthly rainfall of 723 millimetres was about 2.4 times the normal amount and ranked the fourth highest for the month. The approach of Severe Tropical Storm Hagupit necessitated the issuance of the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal in Hong Kong. Hagupit passed about 150 kilometres to the south-southwest of Hong Kong and made landfall near Yangjiang.
October was cloudier and wetter than usual. Total bright sunshine duration of the month was the second lowest on record. The Red Rainstorm Warning issued on October 18 was the latest such warning ever issued in a year.
November was drier than usual. The monthly rainfall was 34 per cent below the normal amount. December was cloudier and wetter than usual. On December 19, thunderstorms associated with a cold front affected the New Territories and necessitated the issuance of the Thunderstorm Warning for the first time in December in over 30 years.
Meteorological Services
Hong Kong Observatory
The Hong Kong Observatory was established in 1883, mainly to provide scientific information for the safe navigation of ships. Since then, it has evolved in line with community needs providing services in and studies on weather forecasting, hydrometeorology, climatology, physical
climatology, physical oceanography, aviation and marine meteorology, and radiation monitoring and assessment. The Observatory also operates the official time standard for Hong Kong, provides basic astronomical information and maintains a seismological monitoring network.
The Central Forecasting Office at the Observatory's headquarters is responsible for issuing weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous weather. Its marine weather forecasts cover the South China Sea. Forecasts and advice are also provided to civil aviation, business and industrial communities, port and container terminal operators. Whenever Hong Kong is threatened by tropical cyclones, frequent warnings are widely disseminated together with advice on the precautions to take. A colour-coded rainstorm warning system warns people of heavy rain that may cause serious road
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