The Weather of February 1998

    February 1998 was wetter and warmer than normal. The monthly rainfall of 153.7 millimetres, about three times the normal figure, was the sixth highest for the month. The mean temperature was 1.3 degrees higher than normal though the total duration of bright sunshine was only 56.4 hours, 41.3 hours less than the usual amount. The accumulated rainfall since 1 January was 202.6 millimetres and ranked the eighth highest for the two-month period. It was cloudier than normal with the monthly mean cloud amount of 86 per cent which was 13 per cent higher than normal. The month also saw occurrences of thunderstorm, fog and hail on a few occasions.

    The weather started fine on the first day of the month. It turned cloudy with light rain patches in the evening. A cold front crossed the coast of Guangdong early on 4 February bringing colder air to Hong Kong. Winds strengthened from the north and the weather remained cloudy with more rain. Temperatures dropped to 8.9 degrees, the lowest in the month, on 5 and also on 6 February. Winds moderated on 5 February.

    Clouds cleared on 7 February and generally fine and sunny weather prevailed for the next few days. Rainy and cloudy weather returned on 13 February together with morning mist occurring in the harbour. A cold front crossed the South China coast in the early afternoon on 14 February clearing the mist. However it also brought along showers and thunderstorms on 14 and 15 February.

    Under the influence of a maritime airstream, fog occurred in the harbour on 16 and 17 February. Sea traffic was affected by low visibility. Two cargo vessels collided off Cha Kwo Ling early on 16 February.

    A cold front crossed Hong Kong on the afternoon of 17 February resulting in heavy showers and squally thunderstorms. About 100 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin. Hail was reported in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kam Tin, and also the northern and eastern parts of Kowloon. The size of the hailstones varied from 0.5 to 3 centimetres. In Cheung Sha Wan, the collapse of a scaffolding in gusty winds damaged seven cars. Thundery showers continued the next day and hail was again reported in eastern Kowloon and the southern and eastern parts of Hong Kong Island with hailstones of 0.5 to 2 centimetres in diameter.

    Showers let up on 19 February and temperatures rose to 26.0 degrees, the highest in the month, during the day. Mist and fog occurred again in the evening and persisted until the morning of 21 February. Air traffic and ferry services to the outlying islands were affected. A cargo vessel collided with a fishing vessel in Tathong Channel. A cold front crossed the coast late on 20 February. Winds strengthened from the north early next day and a scaffolding collapsed in Tseung Kwan O in the morning.

    It turned thundery again on the evening of 22 February and further hail reports were received from Hei Ling Chau, eastern Kowloon and Tseng Lan Shue. The size of the hailstones was about 0.5 to 1.5 centimetres. Apart from some sunny periods on 25 February, cloudy weather with periods of rain prevailed for the rest of the month. Furthermore, winds strengthened from the northeast on 28 February.

    During the month, no tropical cyclone occurred in the western North Pacific or the South China Sea. A total of 14 aircraft was diverted due to adverse weather.