1266
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH DECEMBER, 1895.
On the 2nd November the following conditions prevailed. At Shanghai, 30.34, and at Pakhoi (Gulf of Tongking), 30.14, the barometer had risen rapidly. At Hongkong, 30.00, the increase of pressure was also considerable, but at Amoy, 29.94, there was no change. At Bolinao, 29.79, and at Manila, 29.86, the barometer had risen. In Japan pressure varied from 30.15 at Nagasaki to 30.04 at Tokio. Strong winds and gales from N to NE blew generally on the China Coast. At Amoy and Swatow the direction backed from NE in the morning to N in the afternoon. At Gap Rock, Hongkong, a moderate to fresh gale blew from NNW, at Bolinao a light breeze from SE and S, and at Manila a moderate SW breeze in the morning and a light SE breeze in the afternoon. At sea we have the following observations at noon on the 2nd:-The S.S. Chittagong situated in 26° 15′, 123° 00′, 30.09 NE 9 or; S.S. Michael Jebsen 23° 39′, 117° 56′ 29.91 NNE 9 o; S.S. Sungkiang 19° 04', 116° 48′ 29.71 NW 7 op; S.S. Yuensang 15° 01′, 119° 58′ 29.87 SW 4 oq; Bk. Torrisdale 13° 56′ 133° 01′ 29.94 NE 5; Š.S. Guthrie 8° 51', 121° 51′ 29.88 WNW 3 orq. These observations together with those made at the Coast Stations show that an area of low pressure was situated in the neighbourhood of the Balingtang Channel and the centre may be placed, approximately, in the position 20°, 120° at noon. The S.S. Yuensang had been steering S by E from her noon position (19° 12′, 118° 58') of the previous day. The barometer fell to 29.70 at 4 a. on the 2nd, the wind of force 4 to 5, backing from E by N on the afternoon of the 1st to N at midnight, to W at 4 a. on the 2nd and thence to SW. These observations indicate that the vessel had passed to the W of a cyclonic disturbance between the evening of the 1st and morning of the 2nd. On board the Sungkiang, to the W of the centre and steering for Hongkong, the barometer was at its lowest point at noon and thereafter it rose rapidly, and they had a strong gale from NNW during the evening. To the NW of the centre the Michael Jebsen and other vessels, off the China Coast near Swatow and steering towards Hongkong, had the wind backing to N and NW during the afternoon and blowing a strong gale with the barometer rising late at night.
The disturbance seems to have been recurving to the NE during the evening.
On the 3rd, we have the following observations:-Nagasaki 10 a. 29.93 NNW 3 or, 2 p. 29.91 NNW 4 o.; Tokio 10 a. 29.92 NW 2, 2 p. 29.69 NW 2; Shanghai 30.24, Amoy 29.98, Hongkong 30.06, Bolinao 29.86, Manila 29.88. Pressure had therefore increased to a moderate extent at the four latter stations while it had decreased in the North, especially in Japan. Strong winds from N and NE continued on the China Coast and strong winds from NW blew between Shanghai and Nagasaki. At Bolinao and Manila the wind was as follows:-Bolinao 9 a. SSW 2, 3 p. NW 3; Manila 10 a. W 1, 4 p. SW 4.
A depression was apparently moving rapidly to the NE at some distance from the S coast of Japan on this day, but the observations are insufficient to connect this with the disturbance situated near the Balingtang Channel on the previous day. The latter must have moved with extraordinary velocity if it be assumed that it had reached the southern shores of Japan in 24 hours. On the other hand, it is possible that its position was little changed and that it was filling up in the neighbourhood of S. Formosa. Observations from Formosa would determine the point but they are, unfortunately, not available.
On the 4th pressure had increased slightly at Shanghai and to the extent of 0.25 inch and 0.20 inch at Amoy and Hongkong respectively, and the NE monsoon blew with great severity in the N part of the China Sea during the following two or three days.
On the 8th at 5.30 p. "There are indications of a depression in the China Sea to the SW of Luzon." On the 9th at 11.15 a. Forecast:-"barometer unsteady: moderate N winds, probably freshening: fine."
On the 10th at 11.20 a. about 15° to 16° latitude."
"The depression now appears to be situated to the S of Hongkong in Forecast :-—- -"barometer unsteady: fresh NE winds: fair."
Forecast:- "barometer steady: fresh NE winds: fair." Forecast:- barometer rising: fresh NE winds: fine."
On the 11th at 11.20 a.
On the 12th at 11.10 a.
On the 13th at 11.10 a. Forecast:-" barometer rising: fresh to strong N breezes fine, clear. Strong monsoon, increasing, in N part of China Sea."
:
On the 14th at 11.10 a. Forecast:----" barometer steady: strong to fresh NE breezes: dull, some drizzling rain. Heavy monsoon in N part of China Sea."
Pressure remained about 0.2 inch above the normal over China and slightly in excess in Luzon until the 6th November when it commenced to decrease. On the 7th we have the following observations: Hongkong 30.14; Hoihow 30.19; Manila 29.90. Strong NE breezes blew on the S coast of China and light breezes from NNE at Bolinao and Manila. Off the Annam coast in about 13° latitude the barometer read 29.90 and moderate NE and N gales prevailed. The S.S. Memnon situated in 12° 13′,