3.1 Tropical Storm Kujira (1508): 20 – 25 June 2015
Kujira was the first tropical cyclone necessitating the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signal by the Hong Kong Observatory in 2015.
Kujira formed as a tropical depression over the central part of the South China Sea about 190 km south-southwest of Xisha on the afternoon of 20 June. Moving slowly at first, it started to track generally northwards the next day and intensified into a tropical storm that night. It made landfall over the east coast of Hainan Island on the evening of 22 June and weakened slightly while crossing Hainan Island. Kujira re-organized and re-intensified after entering Beibu Wan the next morning, reaching peak intensity with an estimated sustained wind of 85 km/h near its centre. Moving northwestwards across Beibu Wan, Kujira made landfall over the coast of northern Vietnam on the afternoon of 24 June and weakened gradually, before finally dissipating over northern Vietnam on the morning of 25 June.
As Kujira edged towards the south China coast, the Standby Signal No. 1 was issued at 9:40 p.m. on 21 June when Kujira was about 660 km south-southwest of the territory. Local winds were generally moderate to fresh east to southeasterlies on 22 June. At the Observatory Headquarters, the lowest instantaneous mean sea-level pressure of 1001.7 hPa was recorded at 4:04 p.m. on 22 June when Kujira came closest to the territory, passing about 510 km to the southwest. As Kujira moved towards Beibu Wan and departed gradually from Hong Kong, all tropical cyclone warning signals were cancelled at 7:40 a.m. on 23 June.
Under the influence of Kujira, a maximum sea level (above chart datum) of 2.35 m was recorded at Tsim Bei Tsui, while a maximum storm surge of 0.31 m (above astronomical tide) was recorded at Tai Po Kau.
Under the influence of the outer rainbands of Kujira, the weather in Hong Kong became cloudy with scattered showers and squally thunderstorms on 21 June. The outer rainbands of Kujira continued to affect the territory in the following two days. More than 80 millimetres of rainfall were generally recorded over the territory from 21 to 23 June, and rainfall amount even exceeded 140 millimetres over Hong Kong Island, the southern part of the New Territories and parts of Lantau Island.
Kujira did not cause any significant damage in Hong Kong. According to press reports, Kujira severely disrupted air, sea and land transportation in Hainan Island. In Vietnam, at least seven people were killed and four were reported missing during the passage of Kujira.
Information on the maximum wind, daily rainfall and maximum sea level reached in Hong Kong during the passage of Kujira is given in Tables 3.1.1 - 3.1.3 respectively. Figures 3.1.1 - 3.1.4 show respectively the track of Kujira, the rainfall distribution for Hong Kong, a satellite imagery and a related radar imagery of Kujira.
