The Weather of February 1999

    February 1999 was very warm and dry with fine and sunny weather dominating the month. The mean temperature of 18.7 degrees, 2.8 degrees above normal, was the third highest on record for the month. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures of 21.2 degrees and 16.5 degrees respectively were both the fourth highest for February. Moreover, the mean temperature of 18.4 degrees for the three winter months from December 1998 to February 1999 surpassed the highest record of 18.3 degrees set for the same period in 1978-1979.

    The mean cloud amount of 40 percent was the third lowest for the month while the total sunshine duration reached 182.6 hours, making it the seventh highest for February. The mean relative humidity of 67 percent was also the third lowest for the month. Only a trace of rainfall was recorded in the month and this was the second lowest for February. The accumulated rainfall in the first two months of the year was only 4.5 millimetres against a normal of 71.4 millimetres. The Fire Danger Warning was in force on 22 days of the month.

    Apart from a cloudy start and a few light rain patches in the early hours, the weather was fine and warm on the first day of the month. A cold front passed the south China coast early on 2 February bringing a very dry northerly airstream to Hong Kong and strong winds affected coastal areas. Temperatures dropped to 12.2 degrees, the lowest in the month, on 4 February. It was much cooler in the New Territories and the minimum temperature at Ta Kwu Ling was 5.4 degrees that morning. Winds moderated and turned to easterly on 4 February. Long sunny periods and dry weather persisted the next few days.

    A hill fire broke out in Tseung Kwan O damaging a car on 9 February. Cloud amount increased that evening as Hong Kong came under the influence of a maritime airstream. Clouds cleared again the next evening. Hazy and dry conditions retuned on 11 February and visibility at the airport was reduced to 2000 metres. A hill fire broke out in the Castle Peak area that afternoon, affecting an area of 160000 square metres and people nearby had to be evacuated. A continental airstream reached the coast of Guangdong that evening and winds freshened from the north turning easterly late on 12 February.

    Fine and sunny conditions prevailed until 17 February when local areas once again came under the influence of a maritime airstream and cloud amount increased. A cold front crossed the south China coast on the evening of 18 February. Winds were fresh from the north, occasionally strong offshore. There were light rain patches on 19 February. It was cloudy to overcast with cooler temperatures for the next two days while winds moderated gradually.

    Sunny periods developed on 22 February and fine weather continued the next couple of days. It was misty in the western areas on 24 February and visibility was reduced to 1200 metres at the airport. Misty conditions affected the harbour the following day and it was mainly cloudy. The weather turned fine again later on 26 February. Temperatures rose to 27.3 degrees, the highest in the month, in the hazy afternoon of 27 February. A cold front crossed the coast of Guangdong that evening and winds strengthened from the east accompanied by light rain patches. It became slightly cooler on the last day of the month.

    There was one tropical cyclone over the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month of February.

    During the month, no aircraft was diverted due to adverse weather.