XN000022-1973-02-23 — Page 11

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Friday, February 23, 1973

Meanwhile the anticyclone over China had been intensifying, and

on January 17 a cold front moved south through Hong Kong causing the temperature to fall from a maximum of 21.8°C on January 16 to a minimum of 13.0°C the

following night.

For the next 6 days a succession of upper air disturbances affected

the south China coast and the bulk of the month's rainfall occurred during

this period.

On January 24, winds freshened from the east as a result of the

intensification of the winter monsoon and the Strong Monsoon Signal was

hoisted between 3.45 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. on January 25.

During the remainder of the month, a drier northeasterly airstream

affected the south China coast and conditions became fine with almost continuous

sunshine on the last two days.

As the humidity was low, Yellow Fire Danger Warnings were issued on

these two days.

Sunshine

Rainfall

The month's figures and departures from normal were:-

Cloudiness

Relative Humidity

Mean Maximum Temperature

Mean Temperature

100.9 hours ; 44.5 hours below normal

57.8 cm

;

26.1 mm above normal

76%

; 12% above normal

78%

;

3% above normal

18.6°C

16.0°C

;

0.4°C above normal

0.6°C above normal

Mean Minimum