XN000022-1974-01-02 — Page 9

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I

Wednesday, January 2, 1974

DRIEST DECEMBER ON RECORD

Last month was the driest December ever recorded by the Royal

Observatory, with the mean relative humidity dropping to 51 per cent - nearly

20 per cent below normal.

This winter season has been exceptionally dry because the continental

anticyclone over China was stronger and more persistent than usual, according

to Dr. P.C. Chin, Senior Scientific Officer of the Royal Observatory.

It resulted in a sustained period of cold air streams from the

north, he said. Such static condition in pressure distribution is known

in meteorological terms as a 'blocking situation'.

At this time of the year, anticyclones over China usually move

eastward into the Pacific, said Dr. Chin this would bring to Hong Kong

more humid and warmer weather. However, there is at present little

indication that there would be changes in the situation for the next

few days, he added.

The dry condition in December has brought with it extreme fire

hazards. The fire warning signal was on throughout the month except

for a short period of 11 hours on December 12.

/During