Macau is situated on the Southeast China coast, facing to the South China Sea with the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta behind. Comprising Macau Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. Macau lies between longitude 111^o31'36" E and 113^o35'23" E, latitude 22^o13'05" N. In general, the longitude and latitude of the summit of Guia Hill in Macau Peninsula is used as Macau's geographic coordinates: 113^o32'47" E and 22^o11'52" N.

Macau is on the west of Hong Kong at a distance about 60 kilometers, separated by the mouth of the Zhujiang River. To the west, Wanzai of Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, is Macau's close neighhbour separated only by a strip of water, less than one kilometer wide. Gongbei of Zhuhai City is linked to Macau on the north by an old sand ridge; their land border is only 240 meters.

Area and Population

Owing to the reclamation, the area of Macau has increased rapidly. Its total area is 21.45 square kilometers in 1996; Macau Peninsula has an area of 7.84 square kilometers, Coloane Island 7.82 square kilometers, and Taipa Island 5.79 square kilometers.

The population at end 1996 was about 416,000.

Climate

Macau is located on the northern fringe of the tropical zone. It has a distinctive seasonal climate that is influenced deeply by the monsoon. Prevailing winds and weather types change follow the monsoon pattern. It is warm and moist when the southeast and southwest winds come from Pacific or Indian Ocean; and is dry and slightly cold when the north winds come from Mongolia or Siberia. During the transition period from northeast monsoon to southwest monsoon (March and April), the weather is moist and foggy. It is Macau's spring season. Summer is from May to September, when the southeast and southwest monsoon is prevailing. It is rather hot and rainy. The weather in autumn (the end of September and October) is sunny and warm, when the southwest monsoon withdraws gradually and the northeast monsoon advance south. Winter is from November to February next year, when the northeast monsoon is prevailing. It is slightly cold and has less rainfall; air temperature will suddenly drop to below 5^oC when a strong cold wave comes.

The annual mean temperature of Macau is 22.3^oC. The hottest month is July with a monthly mean temperature of 28.6^oC, and the coldest is January with 14.5^oC. The annual range of air temperature is 14.0^oC. The extreme minimum temperature recorded in Macau Observatory is -1.8^oC, which occurred on January 26, 1948. The extreme maximum temperature is 38.9^oC, occurred on July 2 and 6, 1930.

Macau's rainy season, accounting for 83% of the annual total. Average monthly rainfall from May to September is more than 200mm. In May, June and August, this is more than 300mm. From the dry season is from October to March, having rainfall of only 17% of the annual total. Average monthly rainfall from November to March is less than 80mm and from December to February, this is even less than 40mm.

The precipitation in Macau changes greatly from year to year, too. According to the records of the Observatory from 1901 to 1995, the year 1982 received maximum precipitation (3041.4mm); the year 1904 received the least (982.5mm).

Macau is affected by typhoons frequently from May to October, especially in July, August and September. On the average, about twice a year typhoons enter within the range of 100 nautical miles causing direct influences. However, during forty-four years from 1952 to 1995, there were only twenty-one years in which typhoons hit Macau (within 50 nautical miles) causing damages in varying degrees. Although typhoon is a destructive weather system, it brings plentiful of rainfall lightened the drought in late summer and autumn.

Climate charts of Macau

Climatic data web sites

Macau Meteorological Geophysical Services http://www.smg.gov.mo/

Actual Weather Report (current conditions) http://www.smg.ctm.net/report.cgi

Climate of Macau http://www.smg.gov.mo/english/history.html

Weather Forecast from Macau International Airport http://www.macau-airport.gov.mo/english/weatherfrm.html