XN000022-1996-09-12 — Page 37

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Typhoon Herb crossed Taiwan on the first day of August. Its circulation brought a hot continental airstream to Hong Kong. The month's highest temperature of 33.5 degrees was recorded during that sunny afternoon.

Cloudy weather with isolated showers were the order of the next few days as winds turned southwesterly. Showers became frequent and thundery particularly over the eastern part of the territory as winds changed to easterly by August 4.

An area of low pressure developed over the northern part of the South China Sea on August 5 and local winds were occasionally strong offshore. It intensified into tropical depression Lisa the next day and necessitated the hoisting of the stand by signal No 1.

Lisa made landfall near Shantou that evening. For the next five days, the weather remained cloudy with isolated showers and southwesterly winds. There were also a few thunderstorms on August 10, then weather cleared by August 12.

Under the influence of an unstable maritime airstream, occasional showers and thunderstorms affected the territory from August 14 to 18. Torrential rain on August 15 caused flooding in many parts of the territory.

Temperatures fell to 22.6 degrees, the lowest in the month, during heavy showers on the morning of August 18. The rainfall recorded during this five-day period amounted to 206.1 millimetres, two thirds of the monthly total.

Winds turned northeasterly on August 18 with fine weather for the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Niki crossed the northern part of the South China Sea. The stand by Signal No 1 was hoisted on August 20. Easterly winds freshened on August 21 and outer rainbands of Niki brought showers to the territory early the next day. Niki made landfall over Vietnam on August 23 but locally cloudy weather prevailed.

Rain and thunderstorms affected the territory on the morning of August 25. The weather then improved gradually becoming fine and sunny by August 27. The month ended with a trough of low pressure from south China which brought heavy and thundery showers to the territory.

Nine tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month.