|
Kai-tak was the fourth tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of a tropical cyclone warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2012. It was also the third tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal during the year.
Kai-tak formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 960 km east-northeast of Manila on 12 August. Moving west to west-northwestwards, it intensified into a tropical storm on the following day. Kai-tak moved across northern Luzon on 15 August, entered the northern part of the South China Sea that evening and intensified into a severe tropical storm. On 16 August, Kai-tak speeded up on a west-northwesterly track across the northern part of the South China Sea to the south-southwest of Dongsha and intensified further into a typhoon in the afternoon, reaching its peak intensity with an estimated maximum sustained wind of 120 km/h. Kai-tak moved close to the coast of western Guangdong in the morning on 17 August. Mean sea-level pressure of 982.2 hPa was recorded at Zhanjiang at 11 a.m. It made landfall near Zhanjiang in the early afternoon and moved across Beibu Wan later. Kai-tak weakened into a severe tropical storm and made landfall over the region of the Sino-Vietnamese border that evening. It moved across northern Vietnam and weakened into a tropical storm in the morning on 18 August, dissipating inland in the afternoon.
According to press reports, seven people were killed and two missing in the Philippines during the passage of Kai-tak. In the fury of Kai-tak, two people were killed and two others missing in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. Around 2 000 houses collapsed and 5 300 houses damaged in Guangdong. Some 2 200 houses collapsed and 12 000 houses damaged in Guangxi. In Zhangjiang, spring tide coincided with the landfall of Kai-tak and brought severe storm surge there. A vessel ran aground in Qinzhou, Guangxi and six people on board were rescued. A tanker ran aground in Beihai, Guangxi, with the spilling of diesel fuel. In northern Vietnam, at least 17 people were killed and thousands of houses damaged during the passage of Kai-tak.
In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 8:10 p.m. on 15 August when Kai-tak was about 690 km east-southeast of Hong Kong. Light winds prevailed over the territory that night. As Kai-tak moved closer to the south China coast, local winds strengthened gradually on 16 August and the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 1:40 p.m. when Kai-tak was about 380 km south-southeast of Hong Kong. Local winds were fresh northeasterlies, strong offshore and on high ground in the afternoon. With Kai-tak moving closer to Hong Kong at night, local winds strengthened further and became generally strong easterlies, reaching gale force on high ground. The No. 8 SE Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 10:15 p.m. when Kai-tak was about 270 km south of Hong Kong. Kai-tak was closest to Hong Kong at around midnight when it was passing about 260 km to the south-southwest. Winds gradually changed to the southeasterlies in the small hours on 17 August, with gales on high ground and over the waters in the southwestern part of Hong Kong. Winds gradually subsided before dawn as Kai-tak started to move away from Hong Kong. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 6:20 a.m. to replace the No. 8 Signal. Kai-tak continued to move away from Hong Kong during the day and local winds continued to weaken. The Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 3:20 p.m. and all tropical cyclone warning signals were subsequently cancelled at 4:25 p.m.
During the passage of Kai-tak, the maximum hourly mean wind recorded near sea level were 68 and 70 km/h at Cheung Chau and Waglan Island respectively, while gusts of 103 km/h were recorded at both Cheung Chau and Green Island. At the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 999.1 hPa was recorded between 3:06 p.m. and 5:26 p.m. on 16 August.
During the passage of Kai-tak, a maximum sea level and maximum storm surge of 2.89 m and 0.60 m respectively above chart datum was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui.
The weather in Hong Kong was generally fine and very hot on 15 August. It became mainly cloudy with a few squally showers and thunderstorms on 16 August. More than 20 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over parts of the territory. Squally showers continued to affect Hong Kong at first on 17 August. The showers gradually eased off during the day.
In Hong Kong, one person was injured during the passage of Kai-tak. The number of fallen trees amounted to 493. At the Hong Kong International Airport, 34 flights were delayed, six flights were cancelled and another six flights diverted during the passage of Kai-tak.
|