THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13ти JUNE, 1896.
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pressure has given way slightly and now stands at the average in Hongkong but over 0.2 inch in excess at Shanghai." Forecast:-"strong NE and E breezes will probably prevail on the S and SE coasts of China accompanied by fair weather; in the N. part of the China Sea, strong NE winds or gales."
On the 14th at 4.15 p.-Red South Cone hoisted. On the 15th at 10.30 a.
"The depression, At 11.20 a. "A further fall of becoming deeper, appears to be almost stationary to the W of Bolinao.' the barometer has taken place at Bolinao and pressure has also decreased on the China Coast particularly in the N., and in Japan, at Nagasaki. Possibly another depression exists in the Pacific to the S. of SW Japan." Forecast: "fresh or strong breezes from NE in the Formosa Channel and moderate or fresh breezes from N at Hongkong, are likely to prevail, accompanied by fair weather; in the NE part of the China Sea, strong NE winds or gales.'
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On the 16th at 10.45 a.-"The depression, becoming still deeper, remains yet apparently stationary to the W of Bolinao." At 11.30 a. "A moderate SE gale blows now at Bolinao with a fall of the barometer amounting to 0.1 inch since yesterday. Pressure continues to decrease on the S and SE coasts of China and the barometer has also fallen at Shanghai and in Japan owing to a depression in the extreme N." Forecast: strong NE winds in the S part of the Formosa Channel and moderate or fresh N winds in Hongkong; in the China Sea, NE part, NE gales; NW part, strong N winds. weather seems likely to become unsettled on the S. coast of China during the next 24 hours.'
On the 17th at 10.45 a.-"Typhoon centre near to and NW of Bolinao seems slowly moving northwards at present." At 11.30 a.- A terrific typhoon from S. blows now at Bolinao the barometer showing a heavy fall since yesterday. On the China Coast pressure has decreased generally and is below the normal to the extent of nearly 0.2 inch at Hongkong and rather less than 0.1 inch at Shanghai.' Forecast:-"moderate or fresh N and NE winds on the S. coast of China with fine weather; very bad weather in the NE part of the China Sea."
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On the 17th at 4.30 p.-"Typhoon centre N of Bolinao is recurving to the NE.”
At 7.40 p. Red South Cone lowered and Red Drum hoisted. On the 18th at 11.15 a. Typhoon near Bashee Channel apparently moving towards NNE. The barometer has risen nearly 0.5 inch at Bolinao since yesterday morning and fallen nearly 0.1 inch in the neighbourhood of Amoy." Forecast:- "moderate winds from NW to W, accompanied by fine weather, on the S coast of China; increasing NE and N winds probable about the N part of the Formosa Channel."
On the 19th at 10.0 a.--Red Drum lowered. At 11.25 a."The typhoon seems to have moved to the NE in the Pacific. The barometer has risen at Bolinao and on the S and SE coasts of China and fallen in the Gulf of Tongking." Forecast:-"On the S coast of China, light or moderate S to E winds; fine."
On the 20th at 11.10 a.--"The typhoon appears to be approaching the SW coast of Japan. The barometer has fallen sharply at Nagasaki, risen elsewhere. Pressure conditions are now almost normal on the China Coast." Forecast:- "On S coast of China, light variable to moderate NE winds; fine."
The typhoon indicated in the foregoing notices was preceded, during the early part of the month, by abnormally high pressure on the China coast and the prevalence of moderate to strong NE monsoon, the latter but slightly interrupted on two or three days by areas of low barometer traversing N China moving in an Easterly direction. In the China Sea, between 20° and 10° Lat., moderate or light NE and E breezes were the prevailing winds until the 5th when they became light and variable, and on the 7th we find light and moderate SW breezes had made their appearance in the South extending as far North as 15° Lat. These winds were however not maintained above 10° Lat. on the 9th light variable winds prevailing off the Annam coast on this day while moderate NE breezes still blew on the S coast of China. On the 10th light and moderate variable winds continued to prevail off the Annam
low coast while moderate NE winds probably blew to the northward of 16° Lat. On this day a pressure area was passing to the northward of Shanghai while high pressure of 30.4 inches lay over E Japan. On the 11th the northern depression was near Wladivostock. The barometer (approximate mean of the day 30.14) at Shanghai had risen quickly in rear of this depression, but had fallen in Japan although pressure was still high (30.2) at Tokio. At Hongkong we have 29.98 and at Manila 28.80 the mercury falling rather decidedly at the latter station on this day. In the China Sea in 15° Lat. and between 112° and 117° Long, the barometer read 29.90 at noon light NE breezes prevailing there; between 5 and 10° Lat. and 105° and 110° Long. light to moderate SW and W breezes were blowing, the barometer standing at about 29.92.
From the 9th to the 11th the belt of variables between the SW and NE winds seems to have been lying between 10° and 15° Lat. The centre of a typhoon is reported to have passed over Iloilo (10° 48', 122° 35′) at 1 a. on the 11th, and it is very probable that the disturbance had been formed in this belt of variable winds which possibly extended across the China Sea and into the Pacific. At least the appearance of the depression seems to have been coincident with the northerly advance of the SW
monsoon.
Observations made on board the steamships Sungkiang and Esmeralda, lying in Manila Bay show that light and variable breezes prevailed there on the 11th while the disturbance was passing some 200 miles to the southward. The S.S. Memnon, however, in 15°13′, 116°33′ at noon, and steering about Sby E had the barometer falling during the evening with the wind increasing to a fresh breeze from NNE.