TROPICAL CYCLONES IN 2013
Bebinca was the first tropical cyclone that necessitated the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2013. Bebinca formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 560 km south of Dongsha on 20 June and moved north to northeastwards initially. On 21 June, Bebinca took on a northwesterly track at about 19 km/h across the northern part of the South China Sea and intensified into a tropical storm to the south-southwest of Donghsa. Bebinca reached its peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 85 km/h near its centre and moved west to west-northwestwards at about 25 km/h across the northern part of the South China Sea to the south of Hong Kong that evening. It made landfall over the eastern coast of Hainan Island in the late morning on 22 June and moved across the island during the afternoon, entering Beibu Wan in the evening. Bebinca gradually turned to move northwards slowly across Beibu Wan on 23 June. It dissipated inland after making landfall over the coast of northern Vietnam on 24 June. According to press reports, one fishing boat sank near Hainan Island during the passage of Bebinca and a person on board was rescued after fallen into the sea. Another fishing boat lost contact with shore and four fishermen were missing. In Hong Kong, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 7:40 a.m. on 21 June when Bebinca was about 520 km south-southeast of the territory and moving closer to the south China coast. Local winds were moderate northeasterly during the morning. The winds turned to the east and strengthened gradually during the afternoon. At the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1000.3 hPa was recorded at 5:40 p.m. when Bebinca was about 370 km to the south-southeast. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was issued at 8:20 p.m. when Bebinca was about 350 km south of Hong Kong. Local winds became fresh to strong easterlies that night, occasionally reaching gale force on high ground. Bebinca was closest to Hong Kong around midnight on 21 June when it was passing about 340 km to the south-southwest. Local winds turned to fresh to strong east to southeasterlies, occasionally reaching gale force on high ground on the early hours of 22 June. The winds gradually subsided as Bebinca moved away from Hong Kong during the morning. The Strong Wind Signal No. 3 was replaced by the Standby Signal No. 1 at 9:10 a.m. in the morning. All tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 11:15 a.m. that day as Bebinca made landfall over Hainan. During the passage of Bebinca, the maximum hourly mean winds recorded near sea level were 54 and 52 km/h at Green Island and Waglan Island respectively, while maximum gusts of 77 km/h were recorded at Cheung Chau. A maximum sea level (above chart datum) of 3.08 m was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui, while the maximum storm surge of 0.44 m was recorded at Tai Po Kau. The weather in Hong Kong was generally fine and very hot at first on 21 June, becoming cloudy with a few squally showers during the afternoon. The outer rainbands of Bebinca continued to bring squally showers to the territory on 22 June. Over 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in parts of the New Territories and Lantau Island. No significant damage was reported in Hong Kong during the passage of Bebinca. Information on the maximum wind, period of strong force winds, daily rainfall and maximum sea level reached in Hong Kong during the passage of Bebinca is given in Tables 3.1.1 - 3.1.4 respectively. Figures 3.1.1 - 3.1.4 show respectively the track of Bebinca, the rainfall distribution for Hong Kong, a satellite imagery and a related radar imagery of Bebinca. |