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January 2008 was cloudier and wetter than usual. The total bright sunshine duration of 124.8 hours was 16.9 hours below normal. The total rainfall in the month was 33.3 millimetres, about 34 percent above normal. Although the monthly mean temperature of 15.9 degrees Celsius was similar to the normal figure of 16.1 degrees, the mean minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees during the cold spell from January 24 to 31 was the eighth lowest for the same period since 1947. The Cold Weather Warning was issued for a consecutive 177 hours till the end of the month.
Under the influence of a strong winter monsoon, the weather was fine, dry and cold in the first three days. Frost was reported at Kau Sai Chau on the morning of January 2. The weather remained fine and dry with temperatures rising gradually on January 4. Hazy conditions set in on January 5 and persisted in the ensuing four days.
The weather became foggy from January 10 to 12 when Hong Kong came under the influence of a warm and humid easterly airstream. Temperatures fell during the day on January 13 after the passage of a cold front across the south China coast. The northeast monsoon behind the cold front brought generally cloudy and cold weather to the territory in the next four days. Temperatures rose slightly during the day on January 18 when the northeast monsoon was replaced by a fresh to strong easterly airstream. The weather stayed mild with sunny intervals in the next two days.
Another cold front reached the south China coast on the morning of January 21. The northeast monsoon behind the cold front brought cool and dry weather to the territory on that day. With the northeast monsoon dominating over southern China, the weather stayed mainly cloudy and cool with sunny intervals on January 22 and 23. Under the combined effect of the northeast monsoon and a broad rain band, cold and rainy weather prevailed in the ensuing eight days. The minimum temperature dropped to 8.5 degrees on January 31, the lowest so far this winter. Frost was reported at Kau Sai Chau on that morning.
There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in the month.
Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1.1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from the norm of January are tabulated in Table 1.2.
Ends/Monday, February 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:22
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