ENG-1960 — Page 294

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COMMUNICATIONS

24th May and were recorded in the harbour. It is thought to be the first time that these sea waves originating from an earthquake have been observed in the Colony.

THE YEAR'S WEATHER

1960 was an exceptionally warm year. December was the only month with a mean temperature below normal and the annual mean temperature was the highest ever recorded. The mean maximum temperature was also a record. The total rainfall for the year was above normal but not exceptionally so, in spite of the downpours during the typhoons of June and August. The year will probably be remembered by most for the devastation caused by typhoon 'Mary' in June; but the farmers, and the rice growers in particular, were also seriously affected by the drought in the early part of the year.

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The rainfall for each of the first five months of the year was below normal. A dry and sunny January was followed by an exceptional February. Only a trace of rainfall was recorded and it was the least cloudy and most sunny February on record. The high temperatures recorded during the day time were still experi- enced in early March, the warmest since records began in 1884. During this first quarter the Strong Monsoon signal was hoisted six times to warn small craft of strong winter monsoon winds over the local waters.

The abnormally dry weather continued through April, with the result that only 35% of the normal April planting out of rice seedlings was performed. Relief came from the drought on 6th May, when violent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall centred over the northern part of the New Territories gave rise to serious flooding. Fifteen lives were lost and nearly 7,000 flood victims were registered for emergency feeding. Most of the heavy rain fell in about three hours. At one station, rain fell at the mean rate of 104.1 millimetres (4.1 inches) an hour for 3 hours 20 minutes. Although some 5,300 acres of paddy were affected by the floods, there was little damage and the rain permitted some late planting out of the first rice crop seedlings. On 14th May there was another outbreak of violent thunderstorms and although no widespread flooding or serious damage resulted, the rainfall over Hong Kong Island was actually greater than on 6th May.