8
I
Wednesday, January 2, 1974
DRIEST DECEMBER ON RECORD
Last month was the driest December ever recorded by the Royal
Observatory, with the mean relative humidity dropping to 51 per cent - nearly
20 per cent below normal.
This winter season has been exceptionally dry because the continental
anticyclone over China was stronger and more persistent than usual, according
to Dr. P.C. Chin, Senior Scientific Officer of the Royal Observatory.
It resulted in a sustained period of cold air streams from the
north, he said. Such static condition in pressure distribution is known
in meteorological terms as a 'blocking situation'.
At this time of the year, anticyclones over China usually move
eastward into the Pacific, said Dr. Chin this would bring to Hong Kong
more humid and warmer weather. However, there is at present little
indication that there would be changes in the situation for the next
few days, he added.
The dry condition in December has brought with it extreme fire
hazards. The fire warning signal was on throughout the month except
for a short period of 11 hours on December 12.
/During