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March 2008 was warmer and sunnier than usual. The monthly mean temperature of 20 degrees was 1.1 degrees above normal. The total bright sunshine duration was 176.8 hours, about 97% above the normal figure of 89.6 hours. The total rainfall in the month was 57.2 millimetres, about 14.2 millimetres below normal. The accumulated rainfall since the beginning of the year was 118 millimetres, about 21% below the normal figure of 148.6 millimetres.
With a continental airstream prevailing over southern China, the weather remained fine and dry from March 1-12. A trough of low pressure brought generally cloudy conditions and a few rain patches to the territory on the next two days.
Under the influence of a ridge of high pressure along the coast of southern China, the weather was mainly fine on March 15 and 16. A humid maritime airstream set in and the weather became generally cloudy with some mist for the ensuring two days. The weather turned fine with plenty of sunshine during the day on March 19.
An intense northeast monsoon brought windy conditions to Hong Kong on March 20 and 21. Thunderstorms affected the territory in the afternoon of March 22 when a cold front moved across the coast of southern China. The weather stayed cloudy with rain patches the next day.
Under the influence of a dry northeast monsoon, local weather became fine and dry on March 24. A broad rain-bearing cloud band covered Guangdong and brought cloudy and rainy weather to the territory in the following two days. In the morning of March 27, the clouds thinned out and there were sunny periods.
A maritime airstream brought warm conditions with fog patches to Hong Kong from March 28-30. The temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to 28.1 degrees on March 29, the highest of the month. The visibility at Waglan Island dropped to around 100 metres in the morning of March 30. A cold front over southern China moved southwards and crossed the coast of Guangdong in the evening of March 30. The northeast monsoon behind the cold front brought cooler and rainy weather to the territory on the last day of the month.
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 normal of March are tabulated in Table 1.2.
Ends/Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:45
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