TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2007

Francisco formed as a tropical depression over the South China Sea about 700 km east-southeast of Hong Kong on the afternoon of 22 September. It moved westwards and intensified into a tropical storm on the afternoon of 23 September when it was about 300 km south-southeast of Hong Kong. After passing to the south-southwest of Hong Kong on the early morning of 24 September, Francisco made landfall near Wenchang on the northeastern part of Hainan in the afternoon. It weakened into a tropical depression over Hainan that night and crossed Beibu Wan the next day. Francisco made landfall and weakened into an area of low pressure over the coastal regions of northern Vietnam on the early morning of 26 September. A fishing boat sank near Haikou, Hainan in rough seas on 24 September. Five crewmen were missing.

In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 2.40 a.m. on 23 September when Francisco was about 400 km southeast of Hong Kong. Under the combined influence of Francisco and the northeast monsoon, it was cloudy and rainy with strong winds over offshore waters and on high grounds that day. The lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1000.5 hPa was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters intermittently between 3.51 p.m. and 4.12 p.m. on 23 September, when Francisco was about 300 km south-southeast of Hong Kong. Francisco was closest to Hong Kong at about 2 a.m. on 24 September when it was about 290 km to the south-southwest. The winds in Hong Kong turned to the east on the early morning of 24 September and remained strong offshore, occasionally reaching gale force on high grounds. Squally showers and isolated thunderstorms affected the territory that morning. With Francisco moving away from Hong Kong and local winds moderating, all signals were cancelled at 11.15 a.m. that day.

In Hong Kong, there were reports of collapse of scaffoldings and sign boards being blown loose in Sau Mau Ping and Sham Shui Po respectively. A large tree fell in Kowloon Tong and damaged a taxi on the way. No injuries were reported during the incidents.

Information on maximum wind, daily rainfall and maximum sea level during the passage of Francisco is given in Tables 3.2.1 - 3.2.3. Figures 3.2.1 - 3.2.4 show the track of Francisco, rainfall distribution, satellite and radar imageries of Francisco respectively.

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