TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2008
| 3.3 | Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri (0809): 4 - 8 August 2008 |
Kammuri was the third tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signals in Hong Kong in 2008. It was also the second tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal in the year.
Kammuri formed as a tropical depression over the northeastern part of the South China Sea about 580 km southeast of Hong Kong on the morning of 4 August and moved west-northwestwards. It intensified into a tropical storm the next morning. In the early morning of 6 August, Kammuri intensified into a severe tropical storm and moved northwestwards, passing about 130 km south-southwest of Hong Kong that morning. It turned to move westwards later that afternoon and made landfall at Yangxi County in western Guangdong that evening, and weakened into a tropical storm that night. Kammuri then moved across the coastal areas of western Guangdong and Guangxi. It weakened into a tropical depression over northern Vietnam on the small hours of 8 August and further into an area of low pressure there that morning. According to press reports, rainstorms brought about by Kammuri resulted in flooding in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan Island, with direct economic losses of over 500 million RMB. Thirty-three fishermen blown overboard by high winds in the coastal waters of Guangxi were all rescued later. Rainstorm associated with Kammuri and its remnant also affected Yunnan where some 40 people were killed and the direct economic losses were around 300 million RMB. During its passage over northern Vietnam, Kammuri triggered flash floods and landslides. At least 100 people were killed and 50 others missing.
In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 10:15 a.m. on 4 August when Kammuri was about 570 km southeast of Hong Kong. As Kammuri moved closer to Hong Kong, the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 7:15 p.m. on 5 August when Kammuri was about 250 km to the south-southeast. The winds over Hong Kong were moderate to fresh northerlies that day, becoming generally strong over offshore waters and on high grounds at night. As the local winds continued to strengthen, the No. 8 NE Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 5:40 a.m. on 6 August when Kammuri was 180 km to the south. It was replaced by the No. 8 SE Gale or Storm Signal at 8:40 a.m. Local winds strengthened significantly and became generally strong easterlies with gales over offshore waters in the morning. Occasional storm force winds affected the waters in the south of Hong Kong and high grounds. The winds turned to strong southeasterlies that afternoon and the gales over offshore waters and on high grounds also gradually subsided as Kammuri was moving away from Hong Kong. The No. 8 Signal was replaced by the No. 3 Strong Wind Signal at 5:15 p.m. that day. The No. 3 Signal was replaced by Standby Signal No. 1 at 4:15 a.m. on 7 August and all signals were cancelled at 7:15 a.m. that day as Kammuri moved further away and local winds subsided further.
During the passage of Kammuri, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressures recorded at some selected stations were as follows :-
Station
|
Lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure |
Date/Month |
Time
|
Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters
|
990.6 hPa |
6/8 |
6:51 - 6:52 a.m. |
Waglan Island
|
987.5 hPa |
6/8 |
6:44 a.m. |
| Cheung Chau | 990.2 hPa |
6/8 |
7:45 a.m. and 12:00 noon |
Kammuri was closest to Hong Kong at about 10 a.m. on 6 August when it was about 130 km to the south-southwest.
The weather was fine and very hot with some haze on 4 August but there were isolated showers in the evening. The weather became cloudy with rain on 5 August. Heavy squally showers affected Hong Kong on 6 August. There were still scattered squally showers on 7 August with a few squally thunderstorms at night.
In Hong Kong, at least 37 people were injured during the passage of Kammuri. There were over 40 reports of fallen trees and collapsed scaffoldings in various districts. There was also one report of landslides in Tai Hang. Two windows were blown off from a 70-storey office tower in Quarry Bay and damaged four flats of a nearby residential building. Over 10 people had to be evacuated in Kwun Tong as the zinc roof of their hut was blown away. Significant crosswinds affected the Hong Kong International Airport and over 380 flights were cancelled or delayed and 12 others diverted.
The information on maximum wind, periods of strong and gale force winds, daily rainfall and maximum sea level during the passage of Kammuri is given in Tables 3.3.1 - 3.3.4. Figures 3.3.1 - 3.3.4 show the track of Kammuri, rainfall distribution, satellite and radar imageries of Kammuri respectively.
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