Second wettest August on record (with photo)
******************************************** August, 2005, was the second wettest August since records began in 1884 with the total rainfall of 971.3 millimetres more than double the normal figure of 391.4 millimetres.
The two-day rainfall of 546.2 millimetres on August 19 and 20 also set a new record for August. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 2844.2 millimetres, about 67% more than the normal figure of 1707.4 millimetres and was second only to the rainfall recorded in the same period in 1997.
Apart from a few showers, the weather was generally fine and hot on the first eight days of August. Under the influence of the hot subsiding air ahead of Typhoon Matsa to the east of Taiwan, the maximum temperature reached 33.5 degrees on August 6, the highest for the month.
An area of low pressure moved across the northern part of the South China Sea and brought scattered showers to Hong Kong on August 9 and the following two days.
The tropical cyclone season started late in Hong Kong this year - in fact, the latest on record. Tropical Storm Sanvu entered the South China Sea on the morning of August 12 and the No 1 Standby Signal, the first tropical cyclone signal of the year, was issued that morning. Locally, the weather became hot and hazy with thunderstorms in the evening. Sanvu intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm that night and made landfall near Shantou the next day.
Affected by the outer rainbands of Sanvu, there were heavy showers and squally thunderstorms in Hong Kong on August 13. More than 150 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the central and western parts of the Hong Kong Island. A waterspout with a diameter of about 300 metres was also observed near Tai O that afternoon.
With a southerly airstream prevailing over the south China coast, it was cloudy with a few showers and thunderstorms on August 14 and 15.
An active trough of low pressure developed over the northern part of the South China Sea on August 16 and brought scattered showers to Hong Kong. The weather remained showery on the following two days. As the trough of low pressure edged towards the south China coast, there were long periods of rain in Hong Kong on August 19. More than 200 millimetres of rain were generally recorded over the territory that day. In heavy rain and violent squalls, a banyan tree which had thrived for more than a century in Central collapsed, blocking the Lower Albert Road.
The weather deteriorated further on August 20 when local southwesterly winds strengthened. The Amber Rainstorm Warning, Strong Monsoon Signal, Landslip Warning, Thunderstorm Warning and the Special Announcement on Flooding in the Northern New Territories were all in force on that day. Widespread and persistent heavy rain brought more than 300 millmetres of rain to most parts of the territory and resulted in serious flooding and landslides. One man was killed in the landslide in Fu Yung Shan Tusen, Tsuen Wan. About 150 tourists at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island were stranded after landslides blocked the South Lantau Road. They were eventually led to safety by the police. In Tuen Mun, 15 people trapped by metre-deep flood waters were rescued by firemen.
The weather remained unstable with scattered heavy showers on August 21.
During the downpour from August 19 to 21, there were more than 30 reports of flooding and more than 100 reports of landslides in various parts of Hong Kong.
With the trough of low pressure moving to the north, local weather turned mainly fine on August 22 and 23. Thundery showers returned on August 24 as the trough drifted back to the south China coast. A funnel cloud was also spotted near the Hong Kong International Airport that morning.
Under the influence of an easterly airstream, it was mainly cloudy with isolated showers on August 25 and the following two days. The cloud dispersed and there were sunny periods on August 28. It stayed mainly fine apart from isolated showers for the rest of the month.
Six tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and South China Sea 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 August are shown in Table 1.2.
******************************************** August, 2005, was the second wettest August since records began in 1884 with the total rainfall of 971.3 millimetres more than double the normal figure of 391.4 millimetres.
The two-day rainfall of 546.2 millimetres on August 19 and 20 also set a new record for August. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 2844.2 millimetres, about 67% more than the normal figure of 1707.4 millimetres and was second only to the rainfall recorded in the same period in 1997.
Apart from a few showers, the weather was generally fine and hot on the first eight days of August. Under the influence of the hot subsiding air ahead of Typhoon Matsa to the east of Taiwan, the maximum temperature reached 33.5 degrees on August 6, the highest for the month.
An area of low pressure moved across the northern part of the South China Sea and brought scattered showers to Hong Kong on August 9 and the following two days.
The tropical cyclone season started late in Hong Kong this year - in fact, the latest on record. Tropical Storm Sanvu entered the South China Sea on the morning of August 12 and the No 1 Standby Signal, the first tropical cyclone signal of the year, was issued that morning. Locally, the weather became hot and hazy with thunderstorms in the evening. Sanvu intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm that night and made landfall near Shantou the next day.
Affected by the outer rainbands of Sanvu, there were heavy showers and squally thunderstorms in Hong Kong on August 13. More than 150 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the central and western parts of the Hong Kong Island. A waterspout with a diameter of about 300 metres was also observed near Tai O that afternoon.
With a southerly airstream prevailing over the south China coast, it was cloudy with a few showers and thunderstorms on August 14 and 15.
An active trough of low pressure developed over the northern part of the South China Sea on August 16 and brought scattered showers to Hong Kong. The weather remained showery on the following two days. As the trough of low pressure edged towards the south China coast, there were long periods of rain in Hong Kong on August 19. More than 200 millimetres of rain were generally recorded over the territory that day. In heavy rain and violent squalls, a banyan tree which had thrived for more than a century in Central collapsed, blocking the Lower Albert Road.
The weather deteriorated further on August 20 when local southwesterly winds strengthened. The Amber Rainstorm Warning, Strong Monsoon Signal, Landslip Warning, Thunderstorm Warning and the Special Announcement on Flooding in the Northern New Territories were all in force on that day. Widespread and persistent heavy rain brought more than 300 millmetres of rain to most parts of the territory and resulted in serious flooding and landslides. One man was killed in the landslide in Fu Yung Shan Tusen, Tsuen Wan. About 150 tourists at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island were stranded after landslides blocked the South Lantau Road. They were eventually led to safety by the police. In Tuen Mun, 15 people trapped by metre-deep flood waters were rescued by firemen.
The weather remained unstable with scattered heavy showers on August 21.
During the downpour from August 19 to 21, there were more than 30 reports of flooding and more than 100 reports of landslides in various parts of Hong Kong.
With the trough of low pressure moving to the north, local weather turned mainly fine on August 22 and 23. Thundery showers returned on August 24 as the trough drifted back to the south China coast. A funnel cloud was also spotted near the Hong Kong International Airport that morning.
Under the influence of an easterly airstream, it was mainly cloudy with isolated showers on August 25 and the following two days. The cloud dispersed and there were sunny periods on August 28. It stayed mainly fine apart from isolated showers for the rest of the month.
Six tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and South China Sea 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 August are shown in Table 1.2.
Ends/Friday, September 2, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:10
NNNN