The Weather of August 2002

    August 2002 was slightly drier than normal.  The total rainfall of 365.9 millimetres was seven per cent below normal.  The accumulated rainfall since 1 January was 1480.6 millimetres, 13 per cent below the normal figure of 1707.4 millimetres for the same period.

    The month started fine and hazy.  Thundery showers associated with a tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea started to affect Hong Kong on the evening of 2 August.  Showers became heavier and more frequent in the next few days as the tropical depression evolved into a tropical storm named Kammuri and edged closer to Hong Kong.  After making landfall, the active southwesterlies associated with the remnant of Kammuri brought heavy downpours to Hong Kong, necessitating the issuance of Amber Rain Storm Warning on 6 August.  More than 200 millimeters of rainfall fell over Kwai Chung and Sha Tin and 5 reports of flooding were received on that day.

    Weather improved briefly on 7 and 8 August with just a few showers.  An active trough of low pressure brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Hong Kong again on 9 August.  There were 19 reports of flooding on that day, the northwestern part of the New Territories being the worst affected area.  The heavy rain continued for another day and the weather improved on 11 August.  Apart from a few brief showers, the weather was mainly fine for 6 days in a role.

    On 18 August, heavy showers associated with the outer rainbands of tropical storm Vongfong began to affect Hong Kong.  As Vongfong took a northerly track and intensified into a severe tropical storm on 19 August, winds within the harbour became generally fresh.  Showers became less frequent on 20 August as Vongfong weakened rapidly after making landfall.  Two persons suffered minor injuries caused by falling objects during the approach of Vongfong.

    The weather improved rapidly on 21 August.  Fine and hot weather, only interrupted by a few brief showers, continued throughout the remainder of the month.  On 27 August, hot weather was blamed for the death of a 50-year-old man who suffered from sunstroke while hiking in Sai Kung.  Under light wind conditions, it was hazy on 28 August and the visibility dropped to 3500 meters at the Hong Kong International Airport. The temperature also rose to 33.0 degrees the same day, the highest this month.

    A total of 7 tropical cyclones occurred in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea in the month.

    Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in the month are summarized in Tables 1.1 to 1.6.  Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for August are tabulated in Table 2.