639271-1896-Meteorological-Observations- — Page 3

480

THE HONGKONG GOV INMENT GAZETTE, 19TH JUNE, 1898.

Next morning, the 12th, this vessel ran across the path in front of the centre. They experi- enced a strong N backing to W gale accompanied by very heavy rain, lightning and a high confused sca, the barometer falling to 29.59 at 11 a. The centre was probably situated in 12°00', 118°30′ at: The weather was becoming squally with rain, the wind direction being NNW at a distance of from 350 to 500 miles to the W of this position; strong NE breezes prevailed in 19°, 114° and at Bolinao and Manila, light winds from E and SE.

noon.

On the 13th the centre was situated in 12°30′, 117°15′ at noon. It had moved towards WNW at a speed of about 3 miles per hour only. The Memnon's position had been little changed since the pre- vious day and she continued to have a strong SW and SSW gale with terrific squalls and a very heavy sou at a distance of about 120 miles to the SSE of the centre. Oil bags were slung out fore and aft as the sea was sweeping all moveables from the decks. The barometer, 29.63, did not rise and from other observations it appears that the depression was becoming deeper. The Esmeralda and Sungkiang in Manila Pay, at a distance of about 230 miles to the ENE of the centre, experienced mode- rate and fresh E and SE breezes with rain and barometer 29.74. The bark Bittern, distant about 200 miles to the NW of the centre, had a strong N and NE gale with heavy rain squalls and high confused sea. Off the Andam coast fresh NNW breezes were experienced by several vessels at a distance of about 100 miles to the W of the centre, the barometer reading 29.81.

On the 14th the centre was in 13°, 1164 at Noon. Its direction towards WNW had been main- tained but it had only traversed a distance of some 65 miles during the past 24 hours. The observations indicate further development since the previous day. On board the Memmon the barometer had fallen slightly although the centre of the disturbance was now at a greater distance, and in Manila the baro- meter did not rise. The Memmon, distant about 160 miles to the SE of the centre had 29.61, SSW 7, org. The Esmeralda and Sungkang in Manila Bay and distant 270 miles to the ENE of the centre, now had barometer 29.75 with fresh and strong SE breezes and rain. On board the Bittern, distant 170 miles to the NW of the centre, the wind decreased to a strong NE breeze during the morning but rose again to a strong N gale in the evening. Hard rain squalls and a heavy cross sea prevailed. The brig Kristina Nielsen reports a moderate NNW gale, barometer 29.64, falling, at a distance of 180 miles to the W of the centre and the ship Harland, distant 210 miles to the W by S of the centre, a strong NW gala. Off the Annam coast, at a distance of about 350 miles to the W of the centre, the barometer read 29.78 with moderate to strong NW breezes and high sea. On board the S.S. Propontis a bank of clouds stretching from N through E to SE was observed. The centre at the time bore ENE distant about 389 miles from the ship. At a distance of 360 miles to the NW by N of the centre, the ».S. Catherine Aptar had 29.77, NE 6, rq, with decreasing swell. The S.S. Shantung, distant about 600 miles to the SW of the centre, had 29.85 SSW 4.

On the 15th at noon the centre was situated in 14, 1153. It had traversed a distance of about 60 miles during the past 24 hours its direction becoming more and more northerly. The barometer, 29.64, had fallen decidedly at Bolinao, the wind being now a fresh breeze from SE with rain. Pressure was also giving way on the Chinn Coast and in W. Japan. We have Hongkong 29.84, Shanghai 30.03, Nagasaki 29.95 and Tokio 30.15.

A decisive decrease of pressure at Nagasaki seems to have been caused by another depression which appears to have been moving to the NE to the S. of Japan on the 15th and 16th. With reference to this disturbance the $.5. Walgren, leaving Nagasaki for Manila on the morning of the 15th, had a moderate NE gale backing to NW at midnight in 29° 35′, 127° 53', the barometer having fallen from 30.05 at 8 a. to 29.72 (lowest point) at 8 p. As regards the typhoon on the China Sea this low pressure area in the Pacific to the S. of Japan probably determined its change of direction and its subsequent recurvature to the NE.

The most important observations in the China Sea on this day were those made on board the steamships Rescita, Machew and Hemmon and on the sailing vessels Bittern, Kristina Nielsen and Harland. The Bittem, hove to, was nearest to the centre and at a distance of about 75 miles to the W by N. They hid a whole gale from N at noon backing to NNW in the afternoon and to WNWV early next morning with terriffe rain squalls and high sea. The Kristina Nielsen was hove to at a distance of about 119 miles to the W by S of the centre. A strong NW gale lacking to WNW next morning was experienced. The lar meter, 29,55, at noon remained practically steady." The Harland, hove to, reports a whole gale from NW throughout the day with terrific rain squalls and a bad cross seat the main desk being under water. At noon this vessel was distant about 150 miles to the WSW of the centre. The steamship Rosetta was at a distance of about 180 miles to the NW by W of the centre. They had a fresh increasing gale from XW at noon (bar. 29.57) accompanied by heavy rain squalls and vivid lighting. They run to the South but the barometer continued to fall. Late in the evening they sterred their course to the northward again and had the wind changing to N by E still blowing a strong pale with almost stearly barometer. The S.S. Machew, distant about 230 miles to the W of the core at noon, lari 29.68 and a fresh N to NNW gale with torrents of rain and a tremendous sea throughout the day The Mennon, distant 250 miles to the SE by S of the centre, had 29.69, SSW 6. org. In the NW quadrant strong breezes from NNE and NNW, accompanied by rain, were experienced by several vowels at a distance of about 350 miles from the centre, the barometer reading about 29.82. At a distance of about 300 miles to the SW of the centre the barometer read 29.81 and fresh WSW and W breuses prevailed.

6,