A relatively cool February
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An intense winter monsoon that started to affect the south China coastal areas in late January continued its dominance during the first half of February. Under its influence, cold weather persisted in Hong Kong till February 8, with the lowest temperature of the month, 6.8 degrees, recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory on February 1. Frost was also reported in places over the territory during this period. Following the arrival of a cold and dry continental airstream on February 5, the initially cloudy conditions gave way to sunny skies the next day and daytime relative humidity dropped to 40 per cent or below from February 5 to 7.
Apart from a couple of cloudy interludes on February 7 and 9, generally fine weather persisted till February 13. Temperatures started to climb gradually as the winter monsoon moderated, but a replenishment of northerly winds on February 12 soon brought another episode of cold weather to Hong Kong. Near the Lunar New Year festive period, the winter monsoon that affected the south China coastal areas moderated and was replaced by a moist maritime airstream. This led to increased cloudiness, but as temperatures rose the weather became sunny and mild on the first day of the Lunar New Year on February 16.
After some morning fog on February 17, a fresh easterly airstream brought cloudy and cooler weather to Hong Kong. As the easterly winds moderated on February 19, a warm maritime airstream returned to the coastal areas of Guangdong. Temperatures over most parts of the territory rose to 25 degrees or above on February 20 and generally cloudy conditions persisted during the period. With a replenishment of the winter monsoon reaching the coast of southeastern China, the weather in Hong Kong turned cooler again on February 21. This was followed by the setting in of a fresh northerly airstream that brought overcast skies with rain patches, and temperatures fell further over the next two days.
As the winter monsoon subsided, the weather was relatively mild and brighter on February 24 and 25. Under the influence of a fresh easterly airstream, the weather turned generally cloudy and cooler again the next day. As the easterly winds moderated, it became warm with sunny periods on February 27 and 28. Temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory climbed to the month’s highest of 26.2 degrees on the last day of the month.
One tropical cyclone occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in February 2018.
Details of the issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in February are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for February are tabulated in Table 2.
Ends/Friday, March 2, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:23
Issued at HKT 17:23
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