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average. June brought nearly 205 mm - half average rainfall- which appeared plentiful in comparison with the previousseven-month total of only 74 mm.Typhoon Wanda and the 1963 drought were only theforerunners of more uncharacteristic weather, and 1964 wasto become known as the year of the gales.In the 80 years between 1884 and 1963, some 100typhoons had caused gales in Hong Kong, an average oflittle more than one a year. There had been typhoon galesfour times in each of the years 1893,1894 and 1923, but 1964was the first year with five typhoons causing gales in HongKong. Another five storms passed close enough to causestrong winds and disrupt shipping, and the Observatorytracked a total of 41 storms in the year.Local storm signals were displayed for a record 14 days inSeptember to warn of Typhoons Ruby, Sally, Tilda andBillie. Ruby was probably the second most severe typhoonsince the war, with winds exceeding hurricane force fornearly 3J hours at Cape Collinson.As an estimated 10 000 tons of Ruby's debris were beingcleared from the streets, Typhoon Sally approached. Sallypassed some 50 kilometres northeast of Hong Kong on 10September and caused serious damage in Guangdong.There were three fine days before Typhoon Tilda boredown. It caused no damage in Hong Kong, but local stormsignals were up for a record 161 hours.Then came Typhoon Anita (27 September), TyphoonBillie (30 September) and Typhoon Clara (7 October).Typhoon Dot on 13 October brought 17 hours of gales andkilled nearly 30 people.In 1965, Hong Kong was spared. The Observatory'sDirector, Mr. Gordon Bell, described the weather ascomparatively normal, with abundant rainfall and nodestructive storms. Bell also noted that two new tools at theObservatory - a 10 cm weather radar and data frommeteorological satellites - were providing valuable information.79