ENG-1983 — Page 316

THE ENVIRONMENT

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on March 4. Widespread coastal fog was experienced between March 20 and 24 causing a number of accidents at sea and seriously affecting air and sea traffic. Altogether three people were injured in the incidents.

April was again wetter than usual. The total rainfall amounted to 171.1 mm,

mm, 23 per cent above normal. The accumulated rainfall for the first four months of the year, 916.4 mm, was a new record for the period and was nearly three and half times the average figure. Hail was reported on April 5 and 7. Heavy thundery showers on April 8 caused flooding in various parts of Hong Kong. The month was warmer than normal.

May was the fifth consecutive month with above average rainfall. The month's rainfall of 372.5 mm was 25 per cent above normal. Flooding and landslips occurred in various parts of Hong Kong on eight days of the month during heavy showers and thunderstorms.

The amount of rainfall in June, 445.8 mm, was only slightly above average. About three-quarters of this amount, that is, 346.7 mm of rain, fell on June 17 causing widespread flooding and landslips in various parts of Hong Kong. A man was killed in the deluge, 12 others were injured and more than 600 made homeless. Victoria Peak was partially isolated when telephone links as well as water, gas and electricity supplies were cut off by a landslip. The month was hotter than usual. The mean minimum temperature of 27.0°C was the highest recorded for June.

July was the first month in the year with below average rainfall. The monthly total of 131.2 mm was only about 41 per cent of the normal figure. With a mean temperature of 29.4°C, it was the second hottest July since records began in 1884. A long fine spell was experienced from July 1 to 11. The first tropical cyclone signal of the year was displayed in Hong Kong on July 12 during the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Tip. Tropical cyclone signals were also displayed for Typhoon Vera and Typhoon Wayne which moved into the South China Sea on July 15 and 25 respectively. The effects of these tropical cyclones on Hong Kong were minimal and there were no reports of damage.

August was hot. The monthly mean temperature of 29.0°C was the third highest for August while the mean minimum temperature of 26.8°C was the second highest. The total rainfall, 345.7 mm, was about 16 per cent below normal and was brought mostly by showers and thunderstorms between August 15 and 25.

The hurricane signal, No. 10, was displayed during the morning of September 9 when Typhoon Ellen passed close to the southwest of Hong Kong. Typhoon Ellen was the worst typhoon to strike Hong Kong since Typhoon Hope in 1979. Hurricane-force winds were recorded at Waglan Island over a period of eight hours. This was the longest duration of hurricane-force winds at the station since records began in December 1952. Gusts exceeding 100 knots were recorded at most meteorological stations in Hong Kong. As Typhoon Ellen lashed Hong Kong 10 people were killed, 12 reported missing and 333 others injured; 260 huts collapsed and about 1 200 people were made homeless; 27 ships totalling 185 000 tonnes ran aground; three fishing boats and the barquentine ‘Osprey' sank in the typhoon and almost 200 pleasure craft were badly damaged. In the New Territories, some 10 000 farmers were affected: 1 500 hectares of crops and about 80 per cent of the vegetables under cultivation were damaged by floods and winds and about 100 000 chickens and 2 300 pigs were drowned in the floods, mostly in Yuen Long and Kam Tin, while 120 hectares of fish ponds were also flooded. Mei Foo Sun Chuen in Kowloon was flooded by sea water up to a depth of two metres in places and some 80 000 households in Kowloon and the New Territories suffered power failure. Towards the end of the month, Severe Tropical Storm Georgia came within 740 kilometres of Hong Kong and necessitated the hoisting of the strong wind signal, No. 3. Other significant weather