Appendix E.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE OBSERVATORY.
The comparison of weather-forecasts issued daily with the weather subsequently experienced has been conducted on the same system as heretofore (compare Annual Report for 1896 § 5). The results are as follows:-
Success 58 per cent., partial success 32 per cent., failure 2 per cent., partial failure 8 per cent. Following the method used in Meteorological Offices and taking the sum of total and partial success as a measure of success, and the sum of total and partial failure as a measure of failure, 90 per cent. of the weather-forecasts were successful in 1909.
The average results for the three preceding years were as follows:
Success 58 per cent., partial success 32 per cent., failure 1 per cent., partial failure 9 per cent.
2. The number of typhoons directly affecting the North part of the China Sea was, as in the previous year, greater than usual, but the gales which resulted in the Colony were not of great severity with the exception of that of October 19th, when storm-force was reached.
The centre of this disturbance passed a few miles to the South of Gap Rock where typhoon force of wind was experienced for twelve hours. At the Observatory the maximum hourly wind velocity was 75 miles. At Victoria Peak the wind had attained an average hourly velocity of 90 miles when the cups of the Anemograph blew away.
3. From the commencement of the month of June, the weather map made daily for use in the Observatory has been reproduced on a scale suitable for exhibition, and copies have been posted at the following notice boards:-the Harbour Office, Blake Pier and the Ferry Company's Pier. These maps while showing the broad features of pressure distribution are necessarily lacking in detail. It must be remembered that the telegraphic reporting stations are situated almost entirely on the sea-board and with the exception of a couple of stations on the Yangtze river, the interior of the continent is unrepresented.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages it is believed that the public has found the maps useful and applications for copies have been received from several persons. But as those at present exhibited have to be made by hand, it has not been found possible to meet their wishes, and in the present state of our communications the expense of reproducing the map for distribution would not be justified.
4. Under the arrangement mentioned in my last report (§8) the ordinary daily meteorological telegrams were supplemented occasionally...