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An active trough approached from the northwest on March 29. Thunderstorms and heavy downpour associated with an intense rainband swept across the territory that morning. More than 100 shops were flooded in Mong Kok and air traffic was once again affected. Southerly airstream took over again on March 30 and the weather remained cloudy with some light rain patches until the end of the month.
Only one tropical cyclone occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month. Details of the issuance/hoisting and cancellation/lowering of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1.1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal of February are tabulated in Table
1.2.
Table 1.1 Warnings and signals in March 1996
Warnings / Signals
Flood Warning
Effective date and time
29 Mar 0755-29 Mar 1100
Thunderstorm Warning
29 Mar 0710 - 29 Mar 1110
Fire Danger Warnings
Yellow
Red
Yellow
Yellow
1 Mar 0910 - 2 Mar 0600
2 Mar 0600 - 3 Mar 0600
3 Mar 0600 - 4 Mar 0600
4 Mar 1115 - 6 Mar 0800
Gas Heater Alerts
9 Mar 1630-11 Mar 1635 12 Mar 1630 13 Mar 0600
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