was 73 miles at 10 a.m. on September 27, as against 45 miles in 1925 and 108 miles for the past 43 years. The maximum squall velocity, as recorded by the Dines-Baxendell Anemograph, was at the rate of 101 m.p.h. at 8.51 a.m. on September 27, as against 65 m.p.h. on 1925 and 130 m.p.h. for the past 17 years.
The relative humidity was moderately above normal in February and November, slightly above in April, September and October, and nearly normal in the other months. The mean relative humidity for the year was 79% as against 75% in 1925 and 77% for the past 43 years. It frequently exceeded 95% and the lowest for the year was 17% at 2 p.m. on December 27.
Rainfall at four Stations. In the following table the monthly rainfall for the year 1926 at the Observatory is compared with the fall at the Police Station, Tai Po; the Botanical Gardens; and the Matilda Hospital, Mount Kellet:
Month Observatory (Hong Kong) Police Station (Kowloon) Botanical Gardens (Hong Kong) Matilda Hospital (Taipo) January, February 0.215 inches 0.00 inches 0.31 inches 0.35 inches March 2.400 inches 1.82 inches 2.58 inches 2.40 inches April 4.840 inches 3.44 inches 5.03 inches 4.68 inches May 17.165 inches 12.87 inches 18.90 inches 19.62 inches June 5.730 inches 9.02 inches 5.34 inches 3.70 inches July 6.635 inches 7.28 inches 7.68 inches 4.10 inches August 29.90 inches 23.25 inches 20.84 inches 22.53 inches September 8.010 inches 8.45 inches 9.15 inches 8.03 inches October 17.300 inches 11.78 inches 17.82 inches 15.12 inches November 3.275 inches 4.86 inches 3.44 inches 2.84 inches December 4.965 inches 4.86 inches 3.02 inches 4.70 inches Year 100.780 inches 87.63 inches 96.77 inches 88.23 inches *** 0.455 inches 0.16 inches 0.16 inches ...Floods. The heaviest rainfall occurred at the Observatory as follows:-
Period Amount Duration Greatest fall in 1 hour d. h. April 10 1 to April 16 10.96 inches 71 hours 2.225 inches, April 10 13 July 19 0 to July 22 4 20.83 inches ... 3.965 inches, July 19 14 July 23 0 3.72 inches ... 0.500 inches, July 22 22 Sept. 21 0 to Sept. 21 5.61 inches 14 hours 1.880 inches, Sept. 21 14The rain on July 19 caused very severe floods and land slides.