ENG-1959 — Page 369

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

The mean monthly temperature ranges from 59°F in February to 82°F in July, the average for the year being 72°F. The tempera- ture very rarely rises above 95°F in summer, or falls below 40°F in winter. The mean relative humidity exceeds 80% from the end of February to the beginning of September, but it has fallen as low as 10% in January. The average daily duration of sunshine ranges from three hours in March to seven hours in October.

Records since 1884 show that Hong Kong can expect to experience gales due to tropical storms in the months May to November. They occur about once a year on the average and are most likely in July, August or September. Spells of bad weather, with strong winds and heavy rain normally occur several times each year owing to the passage of storms at varying distances from the Colony, but it is only rarely that the centre of a typhoon passes sufficiently close to produce winds of hurricane force.

THE YEAR'S WEATHER

Comparison of the weather for 1959 with records going back to 1884 indicate that the year was one of the hottest and wettest experienced.

The mean annual temperature of 73.4°F has been equalled on three previous occasions but never exceeded. The total annual rainfall 2797.4 mm. (110.13 in.) was 644.6 mm. (25.38 in.) above average and was the fourth highest on records, due mainly to an exceptionally wet June.

January was a dry month and a relative humidity of 10%, the lowest ever recorded at the Royal Observatory, occurred on the 16th following a surge of cold air from the north. A new record maximum temperature for the month of 80.4°F was established on the 29th. There followed the wettest February on record, with only two days on which no rain occurred. The accumulated rainfall for the year rose above the normal value on February 20th and remained above until the end of the year. The month was also warm, with a maximum of 81.2°F; the second highest on record for February.

A dry and sunny March was followed by a wet April with occasional violent thunderstorms. In May there was a reversion to dry and sunny weather.