TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2006

Jelawat was the first tropical cyclone to form in the South China Sea in 2006.

Jelawat developed as a tropical depression about 410 km east-southeast of Xisha Dao in the early morning of 27 June. Moving generally northwest across the central part of the South China Sea, it intensified into a tropical storm that night. With Jelawat approaching Hainan, all ferry and train services across Qiongzhou Haixia were suspended on 28 June, and more than 19 000 vessels had to return to harbour for shelter. That afternoon, Jelawat skirted the northeastern coast of Hainan, bringing heavy rain to Haikou which led to flooding in the city. Jelawat weakened into a tropical depression that night. In the morning of 29 June, Jelawat made landfall near Zhanjiang. It weakened further into an area of low pressure over the western part of Guangdong later that day.

In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 9.40 a.m. on 27 June when Jelawat was 620 km to its south-southeast. The lowest hourly sea-level pressure of 1 005.0 hPa were recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. the same day. Jelawat maintained a distance of over 400 km from Hong Kong during its passage. Jelawat's outer rainbands brought squally showers and thunderstorms to the territory and offshore waters were affected by strong winds. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 6.40 p.m. on 28 June.

During the passage of Jelawat, an Indonesian domestic helper drowned at Shek O. A tree was blown down in Aberdeen.

Information on wind, rainfall and tide during the passage of Jelawat is given in Tables 3.2.1-3.2.3. Figures 3.2.1-3.2.3 show the track of Jelawat, rainfall distribution in Hong Kong and cloud imagery respectively.

- Top -