|
Hong Kong's climate is sub-tropical, tending towards the temperate for
nearly half the year. November and December are generally regarded as
the best months of the year with pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine
and comfortable temperatures.
January and February are cloudier, with occasional
cold fronts bringing in cold northerly winds. Temperatures can drop below
10 degrees Celsius in urban areas. Sub-zero temperatures and frost occur
on high ground infrequently.
March and April can be mild and pleasant but humid.
Fog sometimes disrupts air traffic and ferry services because of reduced
visibility.
The months from May to August are hot and humid with
occasional showers and thunderstorms. Afternoon temperatures often exceed
31 degrees, but at night temperatures generally stay around 26 degrees.
Hong Kong is more likely to be affected by tropical
cyclones between June and October. When a tropical cyclone is some 1 000
kilometres south-east of Hong Kong, the weather is usually fine and exceptionally
hot. If the centre of the tropical cyclone comes closer to Hong Kong,
winds will increase and rain may become heavy and widespread. Landslips
and flooding sometimes cause considerably more damage than the winds.
About 80 per cent of the annual rainfall falls between
May and September. August is the wettest month and January is the driest.
Severe weather phenomena in Hong Kong include tropical
cyclones, strong winter and summer monsoon winds, monsoon troughs and
thunderstorms with associated squalls. Waterspouts and hailstorms occur
infrequently, while snow and tornadoes are rare.
The year 2003 was the fifth warmest since records began in 1884. It was
largely due to milder weather in the first few months when there was more
sunshine and fewer cold surges than normal. The year was also relatively
dry, with rainfall about 12 per cent below normal. It was also notable
for having the driest July on record.
Tropical cyclones occurring in the western North
Pacific in 2003 were fewer than normal. In Hong Kong, the tropical cyclone
season started late in the year. The first tropical cyclone warning signal
was issued on July 20, a month later than normal. Only four tropical cyclones,
against the mean of six, necessitated the issuance of tropical cyclone
warnings locally.
January was sunnier and slightly warmer than usual.
It was warmer and drier than usual from February to April. An area of
active thunderstorms affected Hong Kong in the evening of April 8 and
the Thunderstorm Warning and the Amber Rainstorm Warning were issued for
the first time in the year. May was slightly drier than usual and June
was wetter than usual.
July was warmer and drier than usual. The monthly
mean minimum temperature of 27.6 degrees equalled the record high value
set in 1993. The monthly rainfall of 101.8 millimetres, less than one
third of the normal figure of 323.5 millimetres, was the lowest on record.
Waterspouts and funnel clouds occurred over Hong Kong waters on July 1,
6, 9 and 31. With the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Koni, the first
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal of the year was issued on July 20. The
first No. 3 signal and later the first No. 8 Tropical Cyclone Warning
Signal of the year were issued on July 23 as Typhoon Imbudo approached
Hong Kong.
August was cloudier and wetter than usual. Typhoon
Krovanh necessitated the issuance of the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal in Hong
Kong. It was wetter than usual again in September. As Typhoon Dujuan skirted
the north of Hong Kong about 30 kilometres from the Hong Kong Observatory
on September 2, the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9 was issued for
the first time since 1999.
October was sunnier and much drier than normal. November
was wetter than normal. December was drier than normal with only a trace
of rainfall recorded. |
