- 12.
Northerly winds and cloudy conditions then continued. On February 12, winds freshened from the east bringing periods of rain. Strong easterly winds affected offshore areas early on February 14. Remaining overcast, winds moderated and turned northerly the next day.
A drier airstream reached the south China coastal areas on February 18 with the lowest temperature in the month, 10.9 degrees, recorded that morning. As dry air continued to come from the northeast, clouds cleared and the weather became fine and sunny on February 19. Fine weather prevailed till February 24.
A maritime airstream set in bringing warm weather to the territory on February 24. Apart from a few light rain patches early the next day, the weather remained fine until the end of the month. Temperatures rose to 24.6 degrees, the highest in the month, on February 26.
The western North Pacific and the South China Sea was void of tropical cyclone activity in the month of February.
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 February 1997
Beginning Time
Type of Warnings/Signals
day/month hour
Ending Time day/month
hour
Strong Monsoon Signals
1/2
0245
1/2
0750
3/2
0250
3/2
1800
7/2
0015
7/2
0630
14/2
0010
14/2
1015
Thunderstorm Warnings
2/2
2110
3/2
0800
Fire Danger Warnings
Yellow
19/2
0600
20/2
0600
Red
20/2
0600
21/2
0600
Yellow
21/2
0600
22/2
0600
Red
22/2
0600
22/2
1800
Yellow
22/2
1800
23/2
1800
Gas Water Heater
6/2
1630
7/2
1630
Safety Alerts
8/2
0400
8/2
1630
12/2
1630
13/2
1630
14/2
1630
14/2
2300
15/2
1630
19/2
0630