F 4
the temperature, humidity and cloudiness the least on record. The wind direction, NE by E, was with 1890, 1898 and 1899 the most northerly on record, and the wind velocity was only 0.2 m.p.h. greater than the least on record (1916).
Barometric pressure was considerably above normal in January and considerably below in July. Departures from normal in other months were small. The mean pressure for the year at station level was 29ins 847 as against 29ins -845 in 1917, and 29ins 844 for the past 35 years. The highest pressure was 30.391 on January 8 as against 30.494 in 1917 and 30.509 for the past 35 years. The lowest pressure was 29ins. 108 on August 15 as against 29ins. 078 in 1917 and 28.735 for the past 35 years.
The monthly departures of temperature from normal were small, except in January when the mean temperature was no less than 5.8 below normal. The mean temperature for the year was 71°.2 as against 71°.0 in 1917 and 71°.8 for the past 35 years. The highest temperature was 91°.2 on July 14 as against 90°.8 in 1917 and 97°.0 for the past 35 years. The lowest temperature was 42°.1 on January 9 as against 38°.8 in 1917 and 32°.0 for the past 35 years.
The rainfall was considerably below the average from January to May and considerably above the average in June, August, and September. The total for the year was 101.605, the greatest on record since 1894 when it was 104.25 inches. The greatest fall in one civil day was 7.395 inches on August 3, and the greatest in one hour was 2.420ins between 1 a.m and 2 a.m on September 21.
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 Police Station (Kowloon). (Taipo). Botanical Gardens (Hongkong). Matilda Hospital (Hongkong). January, 0.010 0.01 February, 0.015 0.22 0.06 0.02 March, 1.105 1.29 1.35 1.36 April, 4.440 4.65 4.13 4.44 May, 6.655 7.66 8.79 5.60 June, 24.795 23.64 26.24 24.66 + July, August, 11.640 30.87 12.50 8.32 29.230 40.48 30.23 26.35 September,.. 18.450 13.17 19.87 October, .............. 0.050 0.85 0.04 0.1 November, 5.075 5.74 5.83 6.17 December, 0.140 0.58 0.70 0.60 Year,... 101.605 129.15 109.75 94.86 ** Heavy local thunderstorms on 23rd and 29th.