The Weather of February 2000

    February 2000 was cooler and drier than usual. The mean maximum temperature of 17.4 degrees was 1.2 degrees below normal and the mean temperature of 15.4 degrees was 0.5 degrees below normal. The monthly rainfall was only 27.6 millimetres, which was 20.4 millimetres less than normal. However, the accumulated rainfall in the first two months of the year amounted to 97.9 millimetres, 37 per cent above the normal figure of 71.4 millimetres for the same period.

    Under the influence of the winter monsoon, winds were occasionally strong from the north on the early morning of 1 February. Temperatures dropped to 8.5 degrees in rain, the lowest in the month. Cold and rainy weather continued the next day. With the moderation of the winter monsoon, it became warmer starting from 3 February. There were still a few light rain patches and some mist on that morning.

    The weather turned fine with long periods of sunshine on 5 February. Under light wind conditions, it was hazy during the day with visibility falling to 1 300 metres in the western part of Hong Kong. Haze was cleared in the evening by a northerly airstream. Sunny weather continued the next day.

    Winds strengthened from the north on the evening of 7 February, bringing cooler and dry weather to the territory. Winds turned easterly and moderated on 8 February. Sunny and dry conditions persisted for a couple of days although easterly winds freshened again on 9 February.

    The easterly airstream moderated on 10 February as the ridge of high pressure over southeastern China weakened and the weather became cloudier. Sunny weather returned on 11 February and it also became warmer. Sunny and warm conditions lasted a few days apart from some mist on the morning of 12 February.

    A moist airstream brought foggy weather on the morning of 14 February. Visibility improved as a weak cold front reached the coast of Guangdong in the evening. The subsequent northeast monsoon brought cooler and cloudier weather for the next few days. There were some mist and light rain patches on 17 February.

    A warm and humid maritime airstream again brought foggy weather to the coast of Guangdong on 19 February. Visibility in some offshore areas fell below 200 metres and a catamaran hit a buoy off Cheung Chau. There were also drizzle and light rain patches.

    Similar conditions continued on 20 February and visibility fell below 100 metres over waters in the southern parts of Hong Kong. Two catamarans collided off Tsing Yi and a woman was injured. A barge also crashed with a tugboat off Discovery Bay. The warm airstream also brought the temperatures up to a maximum of 23.2 degrees, the highest in the month.

    A cold front crossed the South China coast on the afternoon of 20 February. Its associated northeasterly winds cleared the fog, and the weather became cooler and cloudy with light rain. Winds turned to easterly on 21 February and rainy weather continued in the next few days.

    A northerly airstream reached Hong Kong on the evening of 23 February and the weather remained rainy and cool. Northerlies strengthened on the evening of 25 February and it turned cold. Frost was reported on Tai Mo Shan the next morning. Strong winds moderated on the afternoon of 26 February but the weather remained cold and rainy for the rest of the month.

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

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