The Weather of March 1998

    March 1998 was cloudier and slightly warmer than normal. The mean cloud amount was 86 per cent against a normal of 76 per cent while the mean temperature of 19.1 degrees was 0.6 of a degree higher than normal. The total rainfall amount of 55.3 millimetres in the month was 11.6 millimetres below the normal figure. However, the cumulative rainfall in the first three months of the year was 257.9 millimetres, about twice the normal for the period.

    March started mainly cloudy with strong easterly winds affecting the coastal areas on the first two days of the month. Winds moderated on 3 March before a band of squally and thundery showers accompanying a cold front swept across Hong Kong on the morning of 4 March. It became fine and clear the next day but clouds returned in the evening. Easterly winds freshened during the day on 6 March.

    Under the influence of a maritime airstream, fog occurred in the harbour on 7 and 8 March with visibility reduced to 200 metres only. International flights were severely affected and more than 300 flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted. It was very warm the next day and the weather was cloudy with some showers.

    A cold front accompanied by rain crossed the coast of Guangdong early on 10 March. Over 50 millimetres of rainfall were recorded in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island. Northerly winds became strong offshore in the evening but moderated gradually the next day. It became cooler and temperatures dropped to 12.4 degrees, the lowest in the month, on 12 March. The weather was fine and sunny on 13 March but cloudy conditions returned that evening. There were rain patches and some mist the next day. Winds freshened from the east on 15 March but moderated towards the evening.

    It became foggy in the harbour on 17 March. Although visibility improved temporarily the next day, fog was dense at the airport on the morning of 20 March with visibility falling to 200 metres. Flights in the morning were again affected and 15 flights had to be diverted. The temperature rose to 27.6 degrees in the afternoon, the highest in the month. A cold front crossed the south China coast late in the evening. Winds became strong offshore on 22 March but moderated gradually the next day. The weather remained cloudy and misty with patches of light rain or drizzle during the following week.

    Starting from 27 March till the end of the month, it was warm with sunny periods though there were also one or two light rain patches.

    No tropical cyclone occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month.

    During the month, a total of 115 aircraft was diverted due to adverse weather.