Tropical Strom Cimaron
Cimaron was the third tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signals by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2013. Cimaron formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 390 km east-northeast of Manila on 16 July and moved northwestwards at about 19 km/h. After skirting the northeastern tip of Luzon on 17 July, it moved across the Luzon Strait and intensified into a tropical storm, reaching its peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 65 km/h near its centre. The circulation of Cimaron was relatively small. Meteorological satellite imageries showed that the diameter of the cloud mass near the centre was about 300 km. Cimaron entered the northeastern part of the South China Sea in the early hours on 18 July. It turned northwards at about 20 km/h in the morning and made landfall over the coast of Fujian that evening. Cimaron weakened into a tropical depression over Fujian in the early hours on 19 July and subsequently dissipated inland. According to press reports, Cimaron brought rainstorms to Fujian where one person was killed and another was reported missing. Around 2,840 hectares of agricultural products were affected and the direct economic loss exceeded 700 million RMB. The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at 11:20 p.m. on 17 July when Cimaron was about 630 km east-southeast of the territory. Local winds were generally moderate east to northeasterlies that night. Cimaron was closest to Hong Kong around noon on 18 July, passing about 390 km to the east. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 3:40 p.m. that day as Cimaron took on a northerly track and its threat to the territory receded. At the time, the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters recorded the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1003.8 hPa when Cimaron was located about 410 km east-northeast of Hong Kong. During the passage of Cimaron, the maximum hourly mean wind of 36 km/h and the maximum gust of 54 km/h near sea level were both recorded at Green Island. A maximum sea level of 2.44 m (above chart datum) was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui, while a maximum storm surge of 0.29 m (above astronomical tide) was recorded at Tai Po Kau. The impact of Cimaron on Hong Kong was rather limited and no significant damage was reported. Under the influence of an active maritime airstream, local weather was mainly cloudy with scattered showers and a few thunderstorms on 17 July. There were also a few showers on 18 July, but only a couple of millimetres of rainfall were recorded in most parts of Hong Kong. |