TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2010

3.1 Typhoon Conson (1002): 12 18 July 2010

Conson was the first tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of a tropical cyclone warning signal by Hong Kong Observatory in 2010.

Conson formed as a tropical depression over the western North Pacific about 1 200 km east of Manila early on 12 July. Moving westwards, it intensified into a tropical storm that afternoon and further developed into a severe tropical storm in the evening. Conson crossed the southern part of Luzon during the night of 13 July and entered the South China Sea the following morning. Conson moved west-northwestwards on 14 July but took on a more westerly track across the South China Sea the following day. It moved west-northwest to northwest on 16 July and intensified into a typhoon that afternoon, reaching its peak intensity with estimated maximum winds of 120 km/h near its centre. Conson made landfall near Sanya, Hainan Island that evening and skirted the coast of southwest Hainan that night. It crossed Beibu Wan and weakened into a severe tropical storm on the morning of 17 July, making landfall over the coast of northern Vietnam that evening and weakening into a tropical storm at night. Conson weakened further into a tropical depression next morning and dissipated inland thereafter. According to press reports, Conson brought rainstorms to the Philippines, where at least 26 people were killed and 60 others injured. In Hainan Island, at least two people were killed, 570 000 people affected and the direct economic losses amounted to 240 million RMB. In Vietnam, 17 people were missing with more than 600 homes and 43 fishing vessels damaged.

In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 7:20 p.m. on 15 July when Conson was about 640 km south of Hong Kong. Local winds were moderate easterlies that evening, becoming fresh offshore and strong on high ground that night. Conson was closest to Hong Kong at around 8 p.m. that evening when it was about 630 km to the south. At the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1006.2 hPa was recorded earlier between 3:42 p.m. and 5:42 p.m. that day. Local winds became moderate to fresh east to southeasterlies on 16 July and were strong on high ground. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 9:15 p.m. on 16 July as Conson gradually moved away from Hong Kong. The maximum winds recorded at various stations during the passage of Conson are given in Table 3.1.1.

The weather in Hong Kong was cloudy with sunny intervals on 15 July, but there were also a few showers and isolated thunderstorms. Under the influence of the outer rainbands of Conson, squally showers and thunderstorms affected Hong Kong on 16 July.

The windscreen of a van was damaged by a fallen tree trunk in Tuen Mun during the passage of Conson. Fortunately no one was injured.

Information on the daily rainfall and maximum sea level in Hong Kong during the passage of Conson is given in Tables 3.1.2 and 3.1.3 respectively. Figures 3.1.1 3.1.4 show respectively the track of Conson, the rainfall distribution for Hong Kong, a satellite imagery of Conson and a related radar imagery.

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