19
515
This vessel had been steered N 33° E from her noon position (19° 20′, 112° 03′) on the 30th, but at 2.30 a. on the 31st her commander found it advisable to put her head to the Southward, as the barometer had begun to fall sharply and the wind had increased to a strong NW breeze accompanied by torrential rain. The wind direction quickly backed towards W as they steered southward, but it increased to a moderate and fresh gale at 5 a. from W by S, accompanied by incessant rain and lightning. The lowest barometer reading, 29.50, was made at 4 a. and at 6.30 a. they steered N 21° E. At 7 a. in 20° 48', 113° 15', the barometer had risen to 29.58 with the wind at SW by W lecreasing and continuing to back as they proceeded northwards. The bark Wm. le Lacheur situated in about 21, 113°, also experienced a strong N backing to W gale between 3 a. and 7 a of the 31st. the wind suddenly decreasing to a fresh breeze at 8 a. and backing to SW at 10 a. The barometric
ninimum, 29.48, occurred at 6 a.
These observations together with those made at Gap Rock show that the area comprised by strong winds was exceedingly small.
At noon on the 31st the centre was situated in 21° 15′, 112 30'. The S.S. Frejr, in 20° 30′, 111° 19′ at noon had a fresh NNE breeze with squally weather. The wind direction was backing, and between 3 p. and 4 p., the vessel being situated in 20° 38', 111° 50' at the latter hour, a strong W gale was experienced, the barometer falling to 29.64. The wind continued to back as they steered towards NE, and at 8 p. it had come to ESE of force 3, the barometer having risen, in the meantime, to 29.69. The S.S. Hongkong had taken shelter in St. John's barbour during the morning and they there experienced strong NE winds, the barometer reading 29.62 at 4 p. At this hour the centre was passing between the anchorage and the position of the Frejr. Moving towards about W by N, it must have entered the coast a few hours later,
In this depression strong gales were not experienced at a greater distance than 30 miles from the centre and then only in the front or W semi-circle. In rear the winds were particularly light and did not exceed a strong breeze at the same distance. Moreover in rear the wind quickly re-gained a NE direction off the S Coast of China as pressure remained low over the N part of the China Sea.
SEPTEMBER.
"Préssure remains low over the NE part of the China Sea.” Forecast:-
moderate N to NE winds: fair."
On the 1st at 11.45 a. "barometer unsteady: light or
On the 3rd at 10.45 a.
Forecast:
ແ
"A depression appears to be situated near the Bashee Channel." "barometer falling: moderate NW winds: fair.'
??
On the 3rd at noon. Red Drum hoisted. At 4.30 p. "The typhoon appears to be moving towards WNW or thereabout." On the 4th at 11.10 a. "Typhoon in Formosa moving towards NW at present." Forecast:- "barometer falling: moderate NW to W winds: fair."
On the 5th at 11.15 a. Red Drum lowered. The centre of the typhoon is now situated to the NE of Foochow and it is probable that it will enter the East coast in the neighbourhood of Wenchow." Forecast :-" barometer rising: moderate or fresh winds, NW to W: fine."
44
On the 6th at 11.5 a. The typhoon has recurved and is now moving towards NE between Shanghai and Nagasaki." Forecast:- -“ barometer rising: moderate or fresh NW winds: fine."
On the 7th at 10.55 a. "The typhoon lies near Nagasaki." Forecast:-barometer rising:
fresh or moderate N winds:
On the 8th at 10.45 a.
fiue."
"The typhoon has moved into the Sea of Japan." Forecast:--"baro- meter steady: moderate or fresh N to NE winds: fine.".
After the passage, to the S of Hongkong, of the small depression of August 31st pressure increased slightly on the SE coast of China, but in Luzon, where the barometer remained yet about 0.15 inch below the normal, a further slight decrease of pressure had set in on September 1st. It appears from the observations made on board vessels that a band of low pressure was also lying across the China Sea in an ENE and WSW direction. This elongated depression apparently extended from the Annam Coast across Central Luzon to the Pacific, and it is probable that a cyclonic depression was forming on September 1st in the Pacific part of the above mentioned area of low barometer, perhaps around the position 18°, 127°.
The following were the conditions prevailing on this day. On the SE coast of China the barometer stood at about 29.71 moderate to light NE breezes prevailing between Foochow and Hainan; in the middle part of the China Sea between 12° and 17° Lat. the barometer read about 29.64 light variable airs prevailing; off the Cochin China coast in 9° to 10° Lat. (barometer 29.73) moderate and fresh W and SW breezes prevailed accompanied by showery weather; at Bolinao light variable breezes were blowing (barometer 29.64) and at Manila (barometer 29.67) light to moderate S and WSW breezes were accompanied by rainsqualls. The bark Japan situated in the Pacific in 15° 09′, 136° 00′ experienced moderate S winds with wet squally weather, the barometer being steady at 29.74.
The Typhoon (XI) may possibly have been situated in 1940, 125° at noon on the 2nd moving towards the NW. A further slight decrease of pressure had taken place at Bolinao (29.60) and Manila (29.65), winds being light and gentle breezes from SE at the former and from S at the latter station. The barometer had risen slightly near Foochow (Sharp Peak 29.76) and was steady at Hongkong (29.71), but the NE winds had freshened on this part of the China Coast. From observations made on board the S.S. Ask lying at Anping (S Formosa) it is seen that the disturbance was advancing