XN000022-1996-10-11 — Page 21

-

· 20 ·

-

The weather of September

•

September 1996 was wetter than normal. The total monthly rainfall of 604 millimetres the sixth highest for the month was more than twice the normal figure of 299.7 millimetres, and the cumulative rainfall since January 1 of 2,200.8 millimetres was 10 per cent above the normal for the same period.

Two tropical cyclones, namely Sally and Willie, necessitated the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals.

The month started fine and winds were light on September 1. It was hazy in the moming the next day, but the weather became cloudy with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Winds turned easterly on September 3 and isolated thunderstorms continued to affect the territory until the early morning of September 5. The weather became fine and sunny later that morning.

Generally sunny weather prevailed for the next couple of days and the temperature went up to 33 degrees on September 8, the highest in the month.

A fast moving Typhoon Sally traversed the northern part of the South China Sea later that day, bringing thundery and frequent squally showers to the territory. Gale force winds affected the more exposed areas early on September 9.

During the passage of Sally, scaffoldings collapsed, trees toppled and two persons were killed.

As Sally moved away, the weather improved rapidly and generally fine weather prevailed on Septebmer 10 and 11.

Easterly winds freshened later on September 11 as an area of low pressure developed over the northern part of the South China Sea. It turned cloudy with isolated showers on September 12 and showers became frequent, heavy and thundery the next day.

The daily total rainfall on September 14 amounted to 227 millimetres, the third highest for September. Temperatures dropped to 23.6 degrees, the lowest in the month, during the heavy downpour.

A landslide occurred in Tai Hang Road where 43 residents had to be evacuated, Seven other landslides and 24 cases of flooding were reported across the territory. Winds subsided on September 16 and the weather became generally fine.

I

L