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GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Three tropical cyclones formed in the South China Sea in August and together they brought nearly 20 inches of rainfall to the Colony. The first was a tropical depression which developed about 240 miles south of Hong Kong on August 10 and crossed the South China Coast about 90 miles west of Hong Kong on the 11th. It was very weak and no local storm signals were hoisted. Tropical storm Iris and severe tropical storm Kate both formed about 400 miles south- east of Hong Kong and moved north-west to west-north-west. Iris crossed the coast about 130 miles west-south-west of Hong Kong on August 17 and caused strong winds over the Colony. Kate passed about 50 miles south-west of Hong Kong on August 21 and caused east to south-east gales in the Colony.
On August 28, typhoon Marge and tropical storm Nora were reported in the Pacific, east of the Philippines. The two tropical cyclones revolved around each other at first but eventually took a west-north-westerly course. By August 29, they became a threat to the Colony and local storm signals were hoisted. Marge was finally absorbed into the circulation of Nora on August 30 and both dis- sipated rapidly over land after crossing the coast near Swatow. No appreciable rain fell in Hong Kong as a result.
二
September was another dry month because all the tropical cyclones that formed in the Pacific either recurved towards the north-east or entered the South China Sea well to the south of Hong Kong.
Typhoon Carla developed on October 12 as a tropical depression over the Caroline Islands. It intensified and moved steadily west- north-westwards and by October 16 Carla was a large typhoon, more than a thousand miles in diameter. In the meantime, the winter monsoon intensified near the coastal waters of South China and the strong monsoon signal was hoisted on October 17. This was later replaced by local storm signals as Carla crossed North Luzon and entered the South China Sea. Carla continued on its west- north-westerly track and dissipated in the Gulf of Tonkin on October 20 after causing short periods of northerly gales in exposed places in the Colony. The total rainfall recorded during the passage of this storm amounted to only 4.0 mm (0.16 in.).
Fine and sunny weather persisted in Hong Kong until November 5 when typhoon Emma, which developed over the Caroline Islands
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