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February 2015 was a month of two halves - mostly fine and dry in the first half, and generally cloudy and humid in the second half. Overall, it was warmer than usual with a monthly mean temperature of 17.5 degrees compared to the normal figure of 16.8 degrees. The monthly rainfall was 32.0 millimetres, less than 60 per cent of the normal figure of 54.4 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall of 73.7 millimetres in the first two months of the year was about seven per cent below the normal figure of 78.9 millimetres for the same period.
Under the influence of the northeast monsoon, the weather in Hong Kong was cool and cloudy with light rain patches on the first day of the month. Apart from some haze, it turned mainly fine in the next couple of days. A replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached the coast of Guangdong and brought a generally cloudy condition to the territory on February 4. Local weather became cold with light rain patches over the next two days, with temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory falling to a minimum of 11.0 degrees on the morning of February 6, the lowest of the month.
With the moderation of the winter monsoon, local temperatures rose by two to three degrees on February 7 along with the return of sunny periods and some haze. Dominated by a dry continental air mass, the weather became generally fine and dry for the ensuing seven days. Relative humidity at the Hong Kong Observatory fell below 40 per cent on February 12 and 13. A maritime airstream set in over the coast of Guangdong on February 15 and the proximity of a moist air mass led to the formation of low clouds and fog patches that lingered over the coastal areas in the latter half of the month.
A fresh to strong easterly airstream brought windy weather with light rain patches on February 18 to 20 as the city celebrated the Chinese New Year. Rain became heavier on February 21 to 23 as rainbands associated with a trough of low pressure affected the territory. A warm day on February 26 finally allowed some sunshine to break through the clouds and fog. Temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory rose to a maximum of 23.7 degrees that day, the highest of the month. Easterly winds strengthened again the next day and brought windy and cooler weather to the territory towards the end of the month.
One tropical cyclone occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in the month.
Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for February are tabulated in Table 2.
Ends/Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:52
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