XN000022-1972-08-24 — Page 10

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WEATHER FOR JULY

Thursday, August 24, 1972

Although six tropical cyclones formed over the western part of the

North Pacific or the South China Sea during July, only one, Typhoon Susan,

affected Hong Kong.

Susan remained within 200 miles of Hong Kong for an exceptionally

long period of over five days. As a result, the mean sea-level pressure of

1000.3 mb was the lowest on record for July.

The rainfall for the month was 180.7 mm below average, but the

accumulated total since the beginning of the year amounted to 1850.4 mm, which

was 37 per cent above normal.

During the first week of the month, a ridge of high pressure covered

south Chine and the weather in Hong Kong was fine apart from a few isolated

showers.

On July 7, a tropical depression formed over the South China Sea off

Luzon. It intensified into a tropical storm named Susan early on July 8 and

meandered northwards.

The Stand By Signal, No. 1, was hoisted at 11.15 a.m. that day when

Susan was about 310 miles southeast of Hong Kong. It intensified further to

a severe tropical storm during that evening.

At 10.15 p.m. on July 9, the storm was centred about 160 miles southeast

of the Colony and the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3, was hoisted. On July 10, Susan

began to move in a series of loops and gradually intensified to a typhoon.

/However, it

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