Severe Tropical Storm Rumbia
Rumbia was the second tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of a tropical cyclone warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2013. Rumbia formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 990 km east-southeast of Manila on 28 June and moved west-northwest to northwestwards. Rumbia intensified into a tropical storm and moved across the central Philippines on 29 June. It entered the central part of the South China Sea and moved across the seas west of Luzon at about 30 km/h on 30 June. Rumbia intensified further into a severe tropical storm over the northern part of the South China Sea to the south of Hong Kong in the morning on 1 July, reaching its peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 105 km/h near its centre, turning northwestwards at about 23 km/h and crossing the seas east of Hainan Island that night. Rumbia approached the Leizhou Peninsula in the early hours of 2 July. At 5 a.m., the mean sea-level pressure at Zhanjiang fell to 980.4 hPa. Rumbia made landfall near Zhanjiang that morning and moved across Guangxi, weakening into a tropical storm before dissipating over the inland areas that night. According to press reports, over 1.4 million people were affected in Zhanjiang, with a direct economic loss of 980 million RMB. In Guangxi, some 0.17 million people were affected, over 90 huts collapsed, around 3,800 hectares of farmland affected and the direct economic loss exceeded 19.7 million RMB. In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 9:10 p.m. on 30 June when Rumbia was about 690 km south-southeast of the territory. Local winds were moderate easterlies, occasionally strong on high ground that night. As Rumbia moved gradually closer to the south China coast, local winds strengthened gradually in the morning on 1 July. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 1:15 p.m. when Rumbia was about 390 km south-southwest of Hong Kong. Local winds became fresh to strong east to southeasterlies in the afternoon, occasionally reaching gale force on high ground. At the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1004.0 hPa was recorded at 2:43 p.m. Rumbia was closest to Hong Kong around 3 p.m. that day when it was about 385 km to the south-southwest. Winds in Hong Kong gradually subsided as Rumbia moved gradually away from the territory during the early hours on 2 July. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was replaced by the Standby Signal No. 1 at 5:10 a.m. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 9:40 a.m. after Rumbia made landfall near Zhanjiang. During the passage of Rumbia, the maximum hourly mean wind recorded near sea level was 54 km/h at Cheung Chau, while maximum gusts of 103 km/h were recorded at Sai Kung. A maximum sea level of 2.17 m (above chart datum) and a maximum storm surge of 0.45 m (above astronomical tide) were recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui. The weather in Hong Kong was very hot with abundant sunshine on 30 June. Under the influence of the outer rainbands of Rumbia, the weather became cloudy with squally showers and thunderstorms on 1 July. More than 20 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over most parts of the territory that day. The weather became hot with sunny periods and a few showers on 2 July. During the passage of Rumbia, there were 16 reports of fallen trees in Hong Kong. At the Hong Kong International Airport, three aircraft were diverted and 419 flights were delayed. |