442
54
Between the 23rd and 24th July a small depression was formed in the China Sea to the S of Hongkong. It subsequently developed and moved towards Hainan and passed into the Gulf of Tongking. On the 26th it entered the mainland at Haiphong.
On the 23rd July E and SE light and gentle breezes blew along the S coast of China with cloudy but fine weather. In the eastern part of this district the barometer had risen 0.10 and in the western part it had fallen. In Hongkong it was rising slightly. Light W airs and calm during the early morning changed to E about 11 a. of force 3. A gentle ESE breeze continued during the remainder of the day. Clouds came up and lightning was seen in the evening. The mean temperature was as high as 82°.2. At Hoihow the barometer was falling and the weather very wet with heavy squalls from N to NW. At Pakhoi the barometer was falling and the weather cloudy with a gentle NE breeze. At Haiphong it had risen slightly with gentle NW to W breezes and overcast skies. In SW Luzon strong SSW breezes prevailed with squally and wet weather and rising barometer. At Bolinao during the previous evening the weather was squally with a fresh W breeze, but on the 23rd the wind backed to S again and became light but the weather continued squally and wet.
There were many vessels in that district of the China Sea to the E of Annam. Their logs show that a fresh SW monsoon was blowing over this area with fine weather. Gradients were rather steep for SW winds in that part of the China Sea and slight for E winds on the S coast of China. There appears to have been an area of slightly deficient pressure in about the latitude of 20° stretching eastward from Hainan.
On the 24th gentle E breezes prevailed on the S coast with a slowly rising barometer. Towards evening it began to fall again. In Hongkong it blew a moderate E or ENE breeze during the day, but it veered late in the evening and blew a fresh ESE breeze decreasing in force. The weather was squally and wet, 1.34 inch. of rain being measured during the 24 hours ending with midnight. At Victoria Peak it blew a moderate SE breeze at noon. The lower clouds came from about E by S. At Hoihow the barometer was almost steady, with a moderate NW breeze and heavy squalls of wind and rain from W to N. The rain was continuous, 2.33 inches being recorded for the 24 hours ending at 9 a. on the 24th. At Pakhoi the barometer showed a slight rise, with fine weather and a light Ñ breeze. At Haiphong the barometer was steady, the wind a light WNW air and the sky overcast. In Western Luzon the barometer was rising. At Bolinao a light SE breeze prevailed with wet weather. The following are some of the observations
COAST STATIONS.
Bolinao, Lamocks,
.29.77 + .05
SE
or.
.64 + .02
SE
C.
Swatow,
.61+.04
E
C.
Breaker Point,
SUUNAKUA
.62 + .02
E
cm.
Hongkong,
.60 + .03
E
opq.
Hoihow,
.48 .00
NW
3
orq.
Pakhoi,
.66 + .03
N
1
C.
Haiphong,
.54 .00
WNW
C.
VESSELS.
S.S. Esmeralda,
.21° 08′
118° 55'
29.60
S
0.
swell.
Alwine,
..21 35
111 47
.44
NE
7
"
Haiphong,
..20 25
111 10
.47
NNE
q. strong wind.
"
Propontis,
.18 51
112 04
.51
W/S
5
Phin Chula Chom Klao,18 24
111 25
.54
W
""
Independent,
..17 23
110 30
.53
W
>>
Rio,
..15 41
110 23
.60
SW
5
decreasing wind and sea. high cross sea. heavy sea.
>
Taicheong,
.15 15
113 05
.64
SSW
3
moderate sea.
Thibet,
.13 19
109 23
.65
W
4 oq.
22
Wingsang,
12 44
112 12
.67
SS W
6
C. high sea.
""
Venetia,
""
Ganges,
.11 00 ..09 32
111 01
.74
SW
5
fine.
109 24
.79
SW/W
fine.
Several other vessels south of 13° latitude, the steamers Hupeh, Angers, Telamon, Salatiga, Strathesk, Decima, Chelydra and the barque Nicoya, had fresh SW monsoon and fine weather.
Of those more immediately concerned the S.S. Alwine from Hongkong to Pakhoi was taken into Hui-Lung-San harbour before noon for shelter. During the early morning the NE wind was increasing from a fresh breeze to moderate gale with falling barometer. Towards evening a fresh NE gale was logged (barometer 29.46 at 8 p.). On board the S.S. Haiphong the following observations were taken :-
July 24, 10.30 a.,
Noon,
..20° 17'
110° 56'
29.47 .47
NNE
NNE
1 p.,
.41
8 P.,
.21 03 112 17
.47
NE
Midt.,
.21 30
112 52
.50
ENE
4
338835
heavy squalls with rain. very heavy squalls. barometer lowest.
high sea.
do.