F 4
Principal features of the Weather. The principal features of the weather in 1926 were:-
(1) Phenomenal rainfall during a prolonged and very severe thunderstorm on July 19, when 21 inches of rain fell in 18 hours, causing severe floods and land slides.
(2) Rainfall much above the average in April, July and September.
(3) Typhoons which passed near Hong Kong on July 22 and September 27.
(4) Heat waves in July, August and September, and relatively cold spells in April and June.
Barometric pressure was moderately above normal in January, February, March, and August. It was nearly normal in other months. The mean pressure for the year at station level was 29.857 ins, as against 29.845 ins. in 1925 and 29.843 ins. for the past 43 years. The highest pressure was 30.384 ins. on January 25, as against 30.343 ins. in 1925 and 30.509 ins. for the past 43 years. The lowest pressure was 29.229 ins. on July 22 as against 29.272 ins. in 1925, and 28.590 ins. for the past 43 years.
The temperature of the air was moderately above normal in January, February, March and September. It was considerably below normal in June, the mean value for the month, 77°.8, being the lowest on record; and moderately below in October, the mean value for the month, 74°.5, being the lowest on record except in 1911 and 1919 when it was 74°.3 and 74°.2 respectively. The mean temperature for the year was 71°.6 as against 71°.4 in 1925 and 71°.9 for the past 43 years. The highest temperature was 92°.5 on August 16, as against 92°.8 in 1925 and 97°.0 for the past 43 years. The lowest temperature was 43°.2 on December 26 as against 39°.7 in 1925 and 32°.0 for the past 43 years.
The rainfall was considerably above normal in April, July and September, and considerably below in May, June and August. The total rainfall for April, 17.16 ins., was the greatest on record, and the total fall for July, 29.79 ins., has been exceeded on only one occasion; in 1917 when it was 30.07 ins. The total for the year was 100.78 ins. as against 87.58 ins. in 1925 and 85.55 ins. for the past 43 years. The greatest fall in one civil day was 21.02 ins. on July 19, which is the highest on record for the past 43 years, and the greatest in one hour was 3.96 ins. between 3.30 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. on July 19, also the highest on record for the past 43 years.
The wind velocity was considerably above normal in June, moderately below in March and November, and slightly below in January, July, September, October and December. The mean velocity for the year was 12.2 m.p.h. as against 11.5 m.p.h. in 1925 and 12.6 m.p.h. for the past 43 years. The maximum velocity for one hour, as recorded by the Beckley Anemograph,