HEAVY PRECIPITATION IN HONG KONG, 1951-2000^*

Daily precipitation amounts greater than 50 mm from 1951 to 2000 in Hong Kong were analyzed to determine their seasonal and annual frequencies.A total of 627 extreme rainfall days happened and 334 (53.27%) days occurred in summer.Non significant increasing trends for annual precipitation and number of heavy rain days were detected.Daily surface weather maps were used to identify the synoptic weather types producing the heavy rainfall.It was discovered that tropical cyclone and low pressure induced most of the heavy precipitation.Seven out of twelve years with counts of heavy rain days over fifteen coincided with E1 Nino events.