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October 2008 was unseasonably warm. Both the monthly mean temperature of 26.5 degrees and the mean daily minimum temperature of 24.9 degrees broke the records set in 1983 by 0.1 degrees and 0.2 degrees respectively. The accumulated rainfall since January 1 was 3002.9 millimetres, about 30% above the normal figure of 2313.1 millimetres for the same period.
Under the influence of a ridge of high pressure over southern China, local weather was mainly fine for the first two days of the month. Tropical Depression Higos entered the South China Sea on October 2 and intensified into a Tropical Storm the next day. Affected by the outer rainbands of Higos, it became cloudy with a few showers on October 3. Higos weakened into a Tropical Depression and made landfall over the western part of Guangdong on October 4. Local weather remained showery on that day. Higos weakened further into an area of low pressure the next morning and moved eastwards along the coast of Guangdong. Under the influence of the remnant of Higos and a cooler airstream over the south China coastal areas, there were some heavy squally showers and thunderstorms in the territory on October 5.
A weak northeast monsoon reached southern China on the evening of October 5 and brought mainly cloudy conditions to Hong Kong from October 6 to 8. Clouds thinned out gradually and the weather turned generally fine for the ensuing three days. A replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached southern China on October 11 and brought windy, rainy and slightly cooler weather to the territory on October 12 and 13. A dry continental airstream brought generally fine and dry conditions to the territory for the next three days.
Affected by an area of low pressure over the northern part of the South China Sea, the weather became mainly cloudy with a few showers on October 17 and 18. A ridge of high pressure dominated the south China coastal areas and brought mainly fine weather to the territory from October 19 to 23.
A weak cold front moved across the coastal areas of Guangdong on the morning of October 24. Affected by the northeast monsoon behind the cold front, local weather became mainly cloudy with a few rain patches on October 24 and 25. Under the influence of a continental airstream over southern China, local weather turned mainly fine for the last six days of the month.
Four tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in October.
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 October are tabulated in Table 1.2.
Ends/Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:17
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