XN000022-1995-01-07+08 — Page 16

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Cloudy weather returned on December 6 and 7. A moist easterly airstream brought periods of heavy rain on December 8 with 58.9 millimetres recorded at the Royal Observatory on that day.

More than 160 millimetres fell over the Sai Kung area. During the downpour, two catamarans collided at the mouth of Shekou Channel off Tuen Mun.

The weather remained cloudy with light rain on December 9. It became humid with morning mist on December 10 and 11. Temperatures were generally on the rise as winds turned southeasterly.

The month's highest temperature of 25.7 degrees was reached on the afternoon of December 12. In the evening, a cold front arrived at the South China coast from the north and temperatures fell nearly 10 degrees by the next morning.

With replenishment of the winter monsoon, cool and mainly fine weather persisted from December 13 to 23. Temperatures fell to the month's lowest of 13.7 degrees early in the morning of December 22.

On December 24, Severe Tropical Storm Axel over the South China Sea resulted in a moist easterly airstream over the territory. The weather in Hong Kong turned overcast with rain over the Christmas holidays. A total of 48.6 millimetres of rain were recorded on December 24 and 25.

Rain eased off on December 26 and there were some bright periods from December 27 until the end of the month.

There were two tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in December.

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 December are tabulated in Table 1.2.