A relatively gloomy November

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     The weather in Hong Kong was gloomier and more humid than usual in November 2017. The duration of bright sunshine in the month was only 114.3 hours, about 37 per cent below the normal figure of 180.1 hours. The duration was also the third lowest for November on record. The monthly mean temperature was 22.2 degrees, 0.4 degrees above the normal figure of 21.8 degrees. Despite the rather cloudy and more humid conditions for most of the month, the monthly rainfall was only 31.2 millimetres, about 17 per cent below the normal figure of 37.6 millimetres. The accumulated rainfall this year up to November was 2572.1 millimetres, about 8 per cent above the normal figure of 2371.7 millimetres for the same period.

     Under the influence of a dry northeast monsoon, the weather in Hong Kong was generally fine and dry for the first three days of the month. A freshening of the northeast monsoon brought cloudy weather with some light rain patches on November 4, before fine weather returned the next day.

     While the northeast monsoon prevailed from November 6 to 8, moister air moved towards the coastal areas of Guangdong and brought clouds and a few rain patches to Hong Kong. Despite the strengthening of an easterly airstream and some light rain in the night on November 8, winds soon subsided the next day and clouds gradually dissipated. A fine day on November 10 saw temperature at the Hong Kong Observatory rising to a maximum of 28.4 degrees, the highest level of the month.

     A replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached the south China coast and the weather in Hong Kong turned cloudy again on November 11. As Tropical Cyclone Haikui made its way across the northern part of the South China Sea, the combined effect between the northeast monsoon and the weakening tropical cyclone resulted in windy and rainy weather in Hong Kong over the next two days. Generally cloudy conditions persisted for a further two days before fine weather returned on November 16 and 17.

     Meanwhile, a cold front formed over southern China and crossed the coast of Guangdong on November 18. Local weather became cloudy with some rain patches persisting till the next day. As cool air under a northerly airstream continued to spread southwards, the weather in Hong Kong was progressively cooler. Although the weather turned fine on November 22, the temperature continued to fall. A minimum of 15.5 degrees, the lowest level of the month, was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory the next morning.

     The northerly winds lasted till November 26, and turned progressively to an easterly direction under a mixture of clouds and sunshine. Local temperatures gradually recovered towards the end of the month. As a replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached the south China coast, some light rain patches affected the territory on November 30.

     Four tropical cyclones 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 November are tabulated in Table 2.

Ends/Monday, December 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:30

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Table 1 (Warnings and signals issued in November 2017)

Table 2 (Figures and departures from normal - November 2017)