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August, 2007, was cloudier and wetter than usual. The monthly mean cloud amount of 74% was 8% higher than normal. The total bright sunshine duration was only 134.3 hours, the second lowest for August. The monthly rainfall of 488.4 millimetres was about 25% above the normal figure of 391.4 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall since the beginning of the year was 1533.3 millimetres, about 10% below the normal of 1707.4 millimetres for the same period.
It was fine and very hot on the first four days of the month. With plenty of sunshine, temperature rose to 35.3 degrees on August 3, the highest of the month.
The outer rainband of the tropical storm over the central part of the South China Sea brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to the territory on August 5 and 6. There were heavy showers on August 6. More than 70 millimetres of rainfall was generally recorded in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It was partly sunny with showers on August 7.
With the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Pabuk from the east, local weather turned cloudy with rain later on August 8. While weakening into a tropical depression, Pabuk skirted the seas south of Hong Kong on the morning of August 9, bringing strong winds and heavy showers to the territory. Local winds subsided that afternoon when Pabuk moved west away from Hong Kong. After changing its course, Pabuk accelerated towards Hong Kong and intensified into a tropical storm on the morning of August 10. That afternoon, Pabuk moved across the western part of Hong Kong. Locally, it was overcast with squally heavy showers on August 10. Gale winds affected the western part of Hong Kong and offshore waters during the afternoon and evening.
An active southwest monsoon set in after the dissipation of Pabuk on the morning of August 11. It was showery on August 11, 12 and 13. A trough of low pressure over the south China coast brought occasional heavy rain to Hong Kong between August 14 and 16. The weather improved gradually on August 17 when the trough of low pressure dissipated. Apart from a few isolated showers, it was mainly fine but hazy on August 18 and 19.
Showery weather returned on August 20 when the south China coast came under the influence of a fresh southwesterly airstream. The weather stayed cloudy with some showers in the ensuing three days. The southwesterly airstream gave way to an easterly airstream on August 24. There were sunny periods and a few showers from August 25 to 28. A weak ridge of high pressure over southeastern China brought fine and clear weather to Hong Kong between August 29 and 31.
Six tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month.
Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarized in Table 1.1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal of August are tabulated in Table 1.2.
Ends/Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:45
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