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Weather of 1995
In 1995, eight tropical cyclones necessitated the hoisting of local Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals as compared to the annual average figure of about six and the No 8 Gale or Storm Signal was hoisted three times.
The first half of the year was particularly dry with rainfall amounting to only 427.6 millimetres, 57 per cent below the normal of 992.5 millimetres for the same period and the fourth lowest on record.
However, the heavy rainfall in July and August associated with active southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones contributed to an overall annual total of 2,754.4 millimetres, 24 per cent above the annual mean of 2,214.3 millimetres. Furthermore, the annual mean pressure of 1,013.7 hectopascals was the second highest on record.
January was cloudier than normal. The total duration of bright sunshine in the month amounted to 117.9 hours, 34.5 hours below normal. The first thunderstorm of the year was reported on January 3.
It was on the whole slightly cooler and drier than normal in February. Generally fine and dry weather occurred during the first 12 days of the month but cloudy and rainy conditions prevailed thereafter.
March was dry in terms of rainfall. The monthly rainfall of 32.4 millimetres was 52 per cent below the March average. It was also marginally cooler than normal with a mean air temperature of 17.9 degrees.
April also had less than normal rainfall. The monthly rainfall of 76.3 millimetres was 53 per cent below the average for April. It was a little warmer than normal with a mean air temperature of 22.5 degrees. Heavy rain on April 19 brought the first flood warning of the year and hail was reported in Tai Po.
The 20.8 millimetres of rain recorded in May was only seven per cent of the May norm, making it the second driest May on record. Under the influence of a hot maritime airflow, a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees was reached on 30 May, the fourth highest for the month of May.
June was unusually warm and dry. The mean daily minimum temperature of 27.1 degrees and the mean air temperature of 28.7 degrees were the highest and the third highest values respectively for June since records began in 1884.