燊
SUPPLEMENT
To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 25th July, 1885.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 299.
The following report from the Government Astronomer, for the month of November, 1884, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 25th July, 1885.
HONGKONG OBSERVATORY.
Weather Report for November, 1884.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
In the China Coast Meteorological Register, based on information transmitted by the Great Northern nd the Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies-which I have published daily, is given a summary of the atmospheric circumstances in Manila and along the Coast of China between Hongkong and shanghai. It also contains information concerning the weather in Nagasaki and Wladivostock, and the first appearance and progress of Typhoons.
In the beginning of November moderate NE winds blew over the China Sea. The barometer was rising and fine weather prevailed. In Manila, the barometer reached a maximum 30.03 at 10 a. on the 12th. The weather was hot but fine and dry over Luzon, and only light airs were reported. At 4 p. a gentle N breeze was reported from Bolinao. At 10 a. on the 13th, the barometer had fallen to 29.97 in Manila, where it was overcast and showery with a light air from NW. From the log of the S.S. Woosung, passing through the Mindoro Sea bound for Hongkong, it became subsequently known, that a typhoon (Typhoon XVII) was at the time passing Westward in a latitude of about 11° North. This steamer had on the previous day experienced moderate N winds and a smooth sea, but thunderstorms accompanied with heavy rain. During the night the sky was overcast, and on the morning of the 13th a NW wind increasing in force was noted. It backed and reached SW at 1.30 p., when it Mew a whole gale with a confused sea and heavy rain. At the same time the barometer fell to 29.52, the lowest reading reported. It appears, that the steamer must have been within 30 miles of the centre, whose position at 10 a. was about 11° N, 123° E. The barometer rose then and reached 29.85 at P., when the wind had calmed down to a fresh SSE breeze, but the weather continued showery. Strong NE breezes with squalls of wind and rain, a rising sea and a windy appearance of the sky are reported by ships west of the centre in the China Sea, as far as the shores of Cochin-China, and between 7 and 16 N latitude. Moderate E and NE breezes with fine weather, but a rather high sea prevailed over the northern part of the China Sea. The area of strong wind was rather limited at the time.
At 10 a. on the 14th, the centre appears to have been about 121" N, 116° E. The S.S. Danube, which was within 40 or 50 miles to the NNE of the centre, at midnight encountered the full force of the typhoon. The barometer went down to 29.63. The sea was something frightful and the rain fell in torrents. The temperature was 81°. By this time the typhoon appears to have attained its greatest violence, and also greater dimensions. At about 10 a. on the 15th, it appears to have been about 15° N, 1091° E, and to have struck the coast of Cochin-China near Cape Batangan.
In northern Luzon gentle E breezes blew on the 15th and the 16th, at 4 p. on which day how- ver a gentle NNE breeze was reported from Bolinao. The sky was blue. At 10 a. on the 16th, the arometer reached a maximum 30.01 in Manila, and also in southern Formosa, where NE breezes had Blown steadily since the beginning of the month. At 10 a. on the 17th, the barometer had fallen to 95 in Manila. The air was misty over Luzon and southern Formosa. At that time Typhoon XVIII was ESE of Manila in 14° N, 125° E or thereabout. The barometer continued falling. In linao a gentle NW breeze, reported in the morning, increased steadily and it blew a strong NNW Breeze with detached clouds in the early morning hours on the 18th. At 10 a. on the 18th, it blew fresh N gale in Bolinao, and a fresh WNW gale in Manila, where the barometer had fallen to 29.44, the temperature had fallen several degrees. The centre of the typhoon appears to have been in 30′ N, 121° 33′ E. At S. Cape, the air was misty, the sky densely overcast, and the NE breeze shened in the course of the day. Next day a fresh NE gale was registered.
15°
I wrote in the China Coast Meteorological Register: "The barometer has fallen. A violent typhoon East of Bolinao moving Westward. Overcast and hazy weather with light winds prevails. At
p. on the 18th the Drum was hoisted, and at 12h 30m. p. on the following day, it was replaced the South Cone. During the day a moderate NNE gale blew at Bolinao, where the sky became Fast, with drizzling rain in the evening. A strong S breeze was reported from Manila at 4 p. barometer had then risen to 29.61, but continued falling in Bolinao. Between 1 30 a. and 4 a. the 19th, the wind is described as 'terrific' by the Superintendent of the Telegraph Office in At 5 a. the barometer had fallen to 29.43 with a fresh E gale. The weather continued reast, wet and squally. Considerable damage to life and property attended the passage of this hoon across Luzon.
Minao.