F 3
The temperature of the air was considerably below normal in March, and moderately above normal in February, May and August. The mean temperature for the year was 71°.8, as against 73°.4 in 1915 and 71°.8 for the past 33 years. The highest temperature was 92°.4, on August 5, as against 93°.4 in 1915 and 97°.0 for the past 33 years. The lowest temperature was 39°.3, on January 24, as against 41°.7 in 1915 and 32°.0 for the past 33 years.
The wind velocity was above normal in February for the first time since August 1911, (except in July 1914, when it was also slightly above normal). The monthly departures from normal were unusually large in 1916. The mean velocity was considerably above normal in February, March, June, and September, and considerably below in January, April, July, and August. From October to December it was moderately below normal. The mean velocity for the year was 12.2 m.p.h. or 0.6 m.p.h. below normal. This is the greatest mean velocity since 1911, when it was 12.9 m.p.h.
The maximum velocity for one hour, as recorded by the Beckley Anemograph, was 55 miles, at 0 h on September 7, as against 56 miles in 1915 and 108 miles for the past 33 years. The maximum squall velocity, as recorded by the Dines-Baxendell Anemograph, was at the rate of 65 m.p.h., at 0 h 20 m on September 7, as against 69 m.p.h. in 1915 and 105 m.p.h. for the past 6 years.
As anticipated there has been a partial recovery from the very low wind velocities of 1915, but at present there are no signs of the wind records giving the normal values of former years.
Rainfall at Four Stations.—In the following table the monthly rainfall at the Observatory is compared with the fall at the Police Station, Taipo; the Botanical Gardens; and the Matilda Hospital, Mount Kellet :-
Months. Observatory (Kowloon). Police Station (Taipo). Botanical Gardens (Hongkong). Matilda Hospital (Hongkong). January, 4.075 inches. 4.87 inches. 4.74 inches. 5.90 inches. February, 1.305 inches. 1.30 inches. 1.61 inches. 1.44 inches. March, 0.355 inches. 0.48 inches. 0.44 inches. 0.24 inches. April, 4.295 inches. 5.52 inches. 4.68 inches. 6.00 inches. May, 12.935 inches. 12.49 inches. 11.65 inches. 16.32 inches. June, 32.180 inches. 38.62 inches. 32.97 inches. 26.21 inches. July, 8.295 inches. 20.03 inches. 8.99 inches. 9.56 inches. August, 5.040 inches. 4.43 inches. 6.84 inches. 5.98 inches. September, 10.520 inches. 13.78 inches. 11.10 inches. 8.73 inches. October, 0.730 inches. 1.71 inches. 0.78 inches. 0.98 inches. November, 0.06 inches. 0.10 inches. 0.075 inches. — December, 0.050 inches. 0.03 inches. 0.08 inches. 0.04 inches. Year, 79.855 inches. 103.26 inches. 83.94 inches. 81.50 inches.