ENG-1995 — Page 460

THE ENVIRONMENT

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monsoons and tropical cyclones contributed to an overall annual total of 2 754,4 millimetres, 24 per cent above the annual mean of 2 214.3 millimetres. The annual mean pressure of 1 013.7 hectopascals was the second-highest on record.

January 1995 was cloudier than normal. The total duration of bright sunshine in the month of 117.9 hours was 34.5 hours below normal. The monthly rainfall was 21.1 millimetres, 10 per cent below the normal of 23.4 millimetres.

It was slightly cooler and drier than normal in February. Generally fine and dry weather occurred during the first 12 days of the month but cloudy and rainy conditions prevailed thereafter.

March was dry. The monthly rainfall of 32.4 millimetres was 52 per cent below the March average. Total rainfall in the first quarter of 1995 amounted to 86.6 millimetres, 37 per cent below the normal of 138.3 millimetres. It was also marginally cooler than normal with a mean air temperature of 17.9 degrees.

April also had less rainfall than normal. The monthly rainfall of 76.3 millimetres was 53 per cent below the average for April. It was a little warmer than normal with a mean air temperature of 22.5 degrees. Heavy rain on April 19 brought the first flood warning of the year and hail was reported in Tai Po.

The 20.8 millimetres of rain recorded in May was only seven per cent of the May norm, making it the second-driest May on record. A maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees was reached on May 30, the fourth-highest for the month of May.

June was unusually warm and dry. The mean daily minimum temperature of 27.1 degrees and the mean air temperature of 28.7 degrees were the highest and the third- highest values respectively for June since records began in 1884. The month was also the sixth consecutive month with below-normal rainfall with only 243.9 millimetres, 65 per cent of the June norm. However, heavy downpours on June 14 and 18 caused Rainstorm Red Warnings to be issued.

July was very wet, with above-average monthly rainfall registered for the first time in the year. The total rainfall in the month, 668.7 millimetres, was more than twice the average, making it the seventh-wettest July on record. Seven days had rainfall of more than 50 millimetres. The Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal was hoisted for the first time in the year with the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Gary.

August was extremely wet. The total rainfall of 1 090.1 millimetres, about 2.8 times the normal of 391.4 millimetres, was the highest for the month of August and the third-highest for any month since records began in 1884. The rain was mostly brought about by active south-westerlies in the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Gary and by the passage of Severe Tropical Storm Helen, Severe Tropical Storm Lois and Typhoon Kent. It was also the first August since 1946 when the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal had to be hoisted twice within the month. Torrential rain fell from August 12 to 14, amounting to 448.3 millimetres and causing around 60 landslides. The most disastrous occurred at Chai Wan, where a teenager was crushed to death by a wall of rocks and mud, and at Nam Long Shan, Aberdeen, where two people were killed and four injured when thousands of tonnes of mud swept across boat yards. An international flight encountered turbulence on the approach to the Hong Kong International Airport on August 14, and 47 passengers and crew were hospitalised. September was the tenth-driest September on record. The total rainfall of 81.4 millimetres was 73 per cent below the normal value.