639973-1896-Meteorological-Observations- — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 29TH AUGUST, 1896.

877

avoid the centre. The China, which had left Hongkong for Saigon the previous evening, crossed the track in front of the centre during the morning and experienced a strong NNW backing gale. At noon she was 55 miles to the SW by S of the centre and had 29.61 and a strong WSW backing gale. Very heavy rain was experienced on board these vessels and wet weather prevailed generally at sea within 350 miles to the S and SE of the centre.

The depression continuing on a WNW course entered the coast on the evening of the 8th and passed a little to the N of Pakhoi about midday on the 9th, the centre being situated approximately in 22°, 119° at noon on this day. The following observations were made at this port:-9 a. 29.58 w/s 2 o, 3 29.56 SE 8 orq. In Hongkong the barometer read 29.70 and at Bolinao 29.85. Strong SW to S winds and squally weather prevailed in the neighbourhood of Hainan Straits and in the China Sea to the SE of Hainan. The Haiphong observations faintly indicate the passage of the disturbance at some distance to the northward of this station on the 10th..

p.

The average speed of the disturbance between the 7th and 9th was at the rate of about 10 miles per hour. The strongest wind reported was force 10.

On the 17th at 11.20 a. China Coast and at Bolinao. Forecast:-"light S and SW

"The barometer has risen much in E. Japan, fallen slightly on the Except at the latter station, pressure is generally above the normal.” winds; fair.'

46

"The At 11.30 a. In the extreme North

On the 18th at 11.20 a. Depression in the Pacific to the ENE of Bolinao." barometer has fallen considerably at Bolinao and on the SE coast of China. pressure has also given way, another depression lying, apparently, over Manchuria." Forecast:-"light W winds; fine.'

On the 19th at 11.30 a. "The barometer has continued to fall in Luzon and along the China Coast, the decrease during the past 24 hours being especially rapid in Luzon and on the S. and SE. coasts of China. The depression embraces a large area but only light winds are reported. Probably the central area of the depression lies to the E of Formosa.' Forecast:-"light or moderate W winds; fine."

On the 20th at 11.30 a. Since yesterday a moderate fall of the mercury has occurred on the China Coast and a considerable fall in Japan. Pressure is generally low in the area embraced by Luzon, the China Coast and Japan. Probably the central area of this large depression lies in the Pacific to the S of SW Japan." Forecast:- "moderate W and SW winds; mostly fair but less settled on the whole, possibly some showers."

On the 21st at 11.10 a. "Barometric changes are slight, the distribution of pressure being much the same as yesterday. The area of lowest barometer appears to be still lying in the Pacific between Formosa and SW Japan." Forecast:-"light W and SW winds; fine."

""

On the 22nd at 11.30 a. "A further decrease of pressure has taken place in Luzon and along the China Coast since yesterday. Apparently the central area of the depression still lies between Formosa and Japan." Forecast:-"light or moderate W winds; mostly fair but less settled as a whole, perhaps a thunderstorm." On the 22nd at 4.10 p. Typhoon North of Formosa approaching coast between Foochow and Shanghai."

On the 23rd at 10.20 a. Typhoon centre moving northwards has just passed to the North of Shanghai." At 11.20 a. "The barometer shows a heavy fall at Shanghai and a slight fall between Foochow and Hongkong while at Bolinao there is no change. Pressure remains low generally with no marked tendency to increase in the South and it is likely that another depression may form in the N part of the China Sea.” Forecast "light NW or variable winds; fair.'

"

As the typhoon referred to in the foregoing notices remained far out in the Pacific during the earlier part of its existence it is only possible to indicate in a general way its most probable track until it approached the coast. Observations made on board the bark Lothair navigating the Pacific on a voyage from Callao to Hongkong show that the centre of the disturbance was probably situated in about 17, 130° on the 18th and that it moved thence in a NW or NNW direction. On the 21st it seems to have been situated near the Loo Choo islands and apparently was unable to complete recurvature and again moved to the NW owing to high pressure spreading westward from the Pacific and advancing over E Japan and the adjacent waters to the southward. On the 22nd at noon the centre was probably situated in about 2740, 125°. The following barometric observations on the 22nd show how greatly the isobars were elongated towards the SW: Yokohama 30.00, Nagasaki 29.68, Shanghai 29.58, Sharp Penk 29.43, Hongkong 29.48, Bolinao 29.60. The S.S. Wuhu encountered the centre at 11 p. on the 22nd in 29°37', 123°46', when the barometer registered the minimum, 28.28 (uncorrected), with the wind dead- calm. Before the arrival of the centre the wind was from NE and after its passage from SW of full typhoon force and accompanied by very heavy rain with high confused sea, but in the central area the rain ceased and the sea, although confused, was without force. The disturbance moved rapidly to-