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August, 2006, was drier than usual and the total rainfall of 275.4 millimetres was 30% below normal. However, with above normal rainfall in the past four months, the accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 2046.9 millimetres, 20% above the normal figure of 1707.4 millimetres for the same period.
Under the influence of a ridge of high pressure over southeastern China, it was fine and hot on the first day of the month. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Prapiroon entered the South China Sea and moved west-northwestwards towards the western coast of Guangdong. Prapiroon intensified into a Typhoon on August 2 and made landfall over east of Zhanjiang on the night of August 3. With the approach of Prapiroon, winds over the harbour area strengthened subsequently on August 2 and
The outer rainbands of Prapiroon also brought squally heavy showers to the territory. During the inclement weather, a number of containers at Kwai Chung and Tuen Mun were blown down, leading to one injury. Another seven people were injured by falling objects and about seven hundred trees were blown down. Local winds weakened gradually on August.
Showery weather persisted from August 4 to 6.
The weather turned fine on August 7. On August 8, there were sunny periods. It was hot and hazy on August 9 when Tropical Storm Bopha skirted across southern Taiwan and edged towards the coastal waters of eastern Guangdong. There were squally thunderstorms on the early morning of August 10.
Fine weather returned on August 11. It remained fine and hot in the following seven days. There were a few heavy showers and squally thunderstorms on August 19 and 20. On the afternoon of August 20, a man was swept away and drowned by flash floods in Tai Shing stream, Tsuen Wan and four maintenance workers were injured by lightning in the Hong Kong International Airport.
It was fine and hot from August 21 to 23. A tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea brought scattered showers to the territory on August 24. The weather stayed showery in the ensuing four days.
It was fine and hot on the last three days of the month.
Eight 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 summarised in Table 1.1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal of August are shown in Table 1.2.
Ends/Monday, September 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:16
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