The Weather of November 2001

    The weather of November 2001 was dry with only 4.3 millimetres of rainfall recorded against a normal of 35.1 millimetres. The Red Fire Danger Warning was issued on 19 days in the month. Despite this, due to a wet summer, the accumulated rainfall from January to November totalled 3047.2 millimetres, the fourth highest for the same period. The total duration of bright sunshine in the month was 206.4 hours, 14 per cent above normal.

    A ridge of high pressure dominated over China and brought generally fine weather to Hong Kong for the first three days of the month. Temperatures rose to a maximum of 28.3 degrees on 3 November, the highest in the month.

    A replenishment of the northeast monsoon reached the coastal areas of Guangdong early on 4 November. The weather of Hong Kong became cloudy with a few rain patches.

    It turned fine on 5 November but a few light rain patches affected the New Territories in the evening as a cold front over southern China moved across the coast. Northerly winds strengthened during the early morning of 6 November and the weather became cooler and dry. Mainly fine and dry weather prevailed the next few days.

    A broad cloud band associated with Severe Tropical Storm Lingling over Vietnam brought some rain to Hong Kong on 12 and 13 November.

    An intense surge of the winter monsoon reached Hong Kong on 14 November, bringing some light rain and much cooler weather. The minimum temperature recorded the next morning was 13.1 degrees, the lowest in the month. Rain eased off during the day and it became very dry with relative humidity falling below 40 per cent.

    With the persistence of the northeast monsoon, it remained very dry with almost clear sky till 28 November. Some haze occurred over the western part of the territory on 23 to 25 November. A hill fire broke out in a country park in Tsuen Wan on 27 November, scorching an area of a thousand square metres.

    The dry spell ended on 28 November when the continental airstream was replaced by moist easterlies. The weather of Hong Kong turned cloudy with a few light rain patches. It became unseasonably humid with mist and light rain the next day. The weather improved during the day on 30 November and there were sunny periods again.

    Three tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in the month.