23
411
On the 12th June at Takow the barometer attained the lowest reading (29.27) at 2.30 a.m. It had been falling rapidly during the past few hours. At 3 a.m. it also read 29.27 but by 4 a.m. it had risen rapidly (29.45). Unfortunately the wind and weather were not noted, the remark beside the hourly readings of the barometer being merely "Typhoon from NE". Anping had at 3 a.m. N 9 barometer 29.46 with gloomy sky. The lowest reading was at 4 a.m. 29.43 with the wind backing. At 9 a.m. the wind had backed as far as WNW 6 rain was falling and the barometer had risen to 29.74. At this time Takow had 29.74 NW 5 and rain. S. Cape had the lowest barometer reading (29.57) at 3 a.m. with SSW 8 and rain squalls. The wind gradually veered to WNW at noon and blew a fresh gale the whole time with rain squalls, barometer at 9 a.m. 29.69. At the Lamocks the lowest barometer was at 3 a.m. (29.67) with W 2 and sky partially clouded. Later the wind became SW 2. On the SE coast the barometer was almost steady with light S and SW airs and fine weather for the most part. The barometer had further fallen at Keelung (reading doubtful) and at the lighthouse stations at the N entrance to the Channel. At the former station the weather was wet and squally with a light NW air increasing to a moderate breeze at noon. Tamsui, a few miles distant from Keelung, had gentle to strong SW breeze during the middle of the day. Southerly winds were spreading quickly Northwards to the East coast where the barometer was falling considerably. In N Luzon light to moderate S and SW breezes with rising barometer prevailed.
The only vessel in the vicinity of the depression was the S.S. Paoting. She was at noon on the 11th in 23°58′, 117°51' bound for Anping, and at midnight had a strong NNE breeze and heavy sea barometer 29.55. At 4 a.m. on the 12th she had a fresh NNW gale increasing, with heavy S sea barometer 29.46 and at this time the ship was "turned back for shelter." It is estimated that she was then within 50 miles WNW of the centre.
The Yiksang and Porpoise had the wind veering as they proceeded NWward, and during the morning they had W and NW light airs and breezes; the weather was fine but there was a heavy Northerly swell.
Observations for the 12th June at noon:
COAST STATIONS.
Bolinao,
SSW 420
29.83 + .06
$
Hongkong,
WSW
450
.74 + .01
WSW
Breaker Point,
W
320
.69 + .01
SW
Lamocks,....
W
270
.73 + .05
SW
South Cape,
SW
90
.68 + .03
WNW
∞o to co 2010
C.
b.
3
C.
cm.
8
omd.
Takow,
WSW
90
.75 + .13
N
3
rg.
Anping,
W
90
.75 + .12
WNW
3
r.
Fisher Island,...................
WNW 140
.73 + .07
SW
2
cm.
Chapel Island,
Turnabout,
Tamsui,
Keelung,...
Steep Island,
WNW 220
NW 180
NNW 120
NNW 120
N 420
.67 + .02
S
3
3
C.
.69
.68 + .01
.59 .14?
.07
WNW
3
om.
SW
4
3
C.
NW
4
od.
.72 .15
SE
1
C.
VESSELS.
S.S. Sungkiang,
SSW
380
17° 11' 119° 42′ 29.81
S
5
S.S. Esmeralda,
SW
300 19
0 119 10
S
1
S.S. Yiksang,
SW
360 19 52 116 15
.85
W
2
C. high N swell.
H.M.S. Porpoise,
WSW
290 20 22
115
38
.75
SW 2 C.
29
S.S. General Werder,... WSW
360 22 26
115
23
.73
SW 1 b.
high E swell.
S.S. Paoting,
S.S. Woosung,
WNW
NW
140 23 35 119 39
170 24 37 119 32
.69 SSW 3 0.
.65 SW 3 0.
The centre passed almost over Takow about 3 a.m. moving Eastwards and crossed Formosa during the morning. At noon it was perhaps in 23,° 122o.
During the afternoon and evening the barometer rose at the S. Formosa stations, and at Takow and Anping winds became light variable airs. At S. Cape the wind continued to blow from about W a moderate breeze during the evening. The weather improved at all these stations. At Keelung the barometer was rising with fine weather and light NW air.
The depression cannot be traced after the 12th but it probably moved NEward in the Pacific. No observations to the Eastward of Formosa are available, this portion of the Pacific being out of the regular track of vessels and this is at all times a great drawback in the investigation of typhoons passing in the neighbourhood of Formosa.