The Weather of October 2001

    October 2001 was warm and dry. The monthly mean temperature of 26.1 degrees was the fourth highest for October. The total rainfall of 10.7 millimetres in the month was about seven per cent of the normal figure. However, because of the very wet summer, the accumulated rainfall since 1 January amounted to 3 042.9 millimetres, the fourth highest for the same period.

    Under the influence of the northeast monsoon, the weather in Hong Kong was mainly fine and dry on the first three days of October apart from a few isolated showers on the evening of 1 October.

    A weak cold front arrived at the south China coastal areas on 4 October. The weather in Hong Kong turned hazy at first and became cloudy with thundery showers in the afternoon. Around 80 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over parts of the Lantau Island. Rain eased off the next day and there were sunny periods apart from a few rain patches. Sunny weather continued on 6 and 7 October.

    It became cloudy on 8 October as a cold front over the northern part of Guangdong moved closer to the coast. The cold front crossed the coast the next day and thunderstorms associated with it brought more than 20 millimetres of rainfall to parts of the New Territories. The weather remained cloudy on 10 October.

    A ridge of high pressure over southeastern China brought a dry continental airstream to the coast of Guangdong on 11 October. The weather in Hong Kong turned fine and dry later that day. Fine and dry weather prevailed till 24 October, apart from a few light rain patches on 18 October.

    The maximum temperature of the month, 31.2 degrees, was recorded on 16 October. There was also some haze between 15 and 18 October. Hill fires were reported in many places over the territory on 21 and 22 October.

    With a ridge of high pressure building up over the east China coast, northeasterly winds freshened on 25 October and cloudier weather set in. Winds moderated during the day and the weather became fine and dry. Hill fires broke out in many places over the territory. One happened in Tin Shui Wai and affected an area of 30000 to 40000 square metres. Thirty five people were trapped and had to be led to safety by firemen. Fine weather persisted for the next two days.

    A replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached Hong Kong on 28 October. The weather turned cloudy and haze occurred in the morning over the western part of the territory. It became cooler the next morning with a few light rain patches. Temperatures fell to a minimum of 22.0 degrees, the lowest in the month.

    The weather became mainly fine on 30 October, and remained so for the rest of the month.

    There were three tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific in the month.