ENG-1971 — Page 288

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GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

was displayed four times during this period to warn of strong easterly or northerly winds. The minimum temperature of the year, 5.5°C, was recorded at the Royal Observatory on January 31. However, during the last three days of that month, snow flakes, sleet, ice and frost were reported at Tai Mo Shan, where the temperature fell to -3°C.

Rainfall was below normal during the first five months of the year and there was only one day in this period, May 19, when heavy continuous rain was reported. The accumulated total rainfall amounted to less than 40 per cent of the average value. The approach of typhoon Dinah on May 28 marked the beginning of a succession of tropical cyclones which threatened the Colony. Dinah passed about 270 miles south-west of Hong Kong but did not cause any damage.

During June and July, five tropical cyclones threatened Hong Kong but only two, typhoon Freda and typhoon Lucy caused gales in the Colony. Typhoon Freda formed about 350 miles east of Manila on June 14 and took a north-westerly course. It passed about 22 miles south-west of Hong Kong and produced 187.6 mm of rainfall at the Royal Observatory. The maximum gust recorded was 103 knots at Tate's Cairn. Two people were killed and 30 injured. Five ships broke adrift and some flooding was reported. The damage to property was, however, slight.

Typhoon Gilda passed about 260 miles south-west of Hong Kong and produced strong winds for a short period on June 27. Typhoon Harriet came within 400 miles of Hong Kong for only a few hours on July 5 and moved steadily west-north-west towards North Vietnam without causing strong winds

over the Colony.

On July 20, typhoon Lucy moved on a north-westerly course through the Balintang Channel into the South China Sea. The typhoon crossed the south China coast about 23 miles north-north- east of Hong Kong on July 23, leaving 38 people injured and causing flooding at many locations. Heavy losses to crops and live- stock were also reported in low-lying areas of the New Territories. Persistent gales were experienced at practically all observing stations and the maximum gust was 80 knots at Tate's Cairn and Waglan Island.

Typhoon Nadine crossed southern Taiwan on July 26 on a westerly track and for a while appeared to be heading directly towards Hong Kong. However, it suddenly turned away in a more northerly direc- tion when it was about 300 miles from the Colony and crossed the