640057-1896-Meteorological-Observations- — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TH SEPTEMBER, 1896.

903

The following notices have been issued by Mr. FIGG during the month :- On the 1st at 11.0 a. "The barometer has risen between Hongkong and the Gulf of Tongking, fallen at Bolinao. Probably another depression exists in the Pacific to the East of Luzon." Fore-

“moderate or light E winds; fine."

cast

On the 2nd at 10.30 a. Red South Cone hoisted. "The typhoon seems to have passed into the China Sea and to be now situated off the SW coast of Luzon. It will probably move towards NW.” At 11.15 a. The barometer has fallen considerably at Bolinao and is now about 0.2 inch below the normal.

Forecast:- In Hongkong pressure, although giving way, is still 0.1 inch in excess." "NE winds, freshening; fine at first, but less settled by to-morrow. Strong N and NE winds, increasing, in the N part of the China Sea."

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On the 3rd at 10.30 a. Black South Cone hoisted. "Typhoon about 300 miles to the SSE of Hongkong moving towards NW." At 10.45 a. The barometer has risen at Bolinao, fallen in the neighbourhood of Hongkong. Pressure is nearly 0.1 inch below the normal at the former station and slightly in excess at Hongkong." Forecast:-strong NE and E winds, increasing; squally and showery." At 4.30 p. The typhoon is probably moving towards WNW. Gale not expected in Hongkong."

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On the 4th at 8.20 a. Black Ball hoisted. At 10.35 a. "The typhoon seems to have appro- ached the East coast of Hainan." At 11.10 a. The barometer is rising in Hongkong and inclined to fall at Haiphong, elsewhere pressure has increased.” Forecast:-"strong SE breezes, decreasing; squally and showery." At 8.40 p. Black Ball taken down.

On the 5th at 11.10 a. "The depression has disappeared to the N of Tongking. Pressure has increased in the neighbourhood of Hongkong and decreased in the Gulf of Tongking, elsewhere changes are slight." Forecast:-"moderate or light SE winds; showery to fair."

The disturbance referred to in the foregoing information appears to have been crossing the SE provinces of Luzon on August 1st, the centre probably being situated at noon near the position 13, 123°. Winds from a N direction prevailed at the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's station at Bolinao and at Manila, and the barometer which was normal on the previous day was falling rapidly. The highest pressure was covering the neighbourhood of Hongkong.

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On the morning of the 2nd the disturbance passed at a short distance to the S. of Manila. The SS. Sungkiang at anchor in Mariveles Bay (14° 26', 120° 30′) had the lowest barometer reading 29.64 at 4 a. with fresh NE quickly veering winds, accompanied by squally and showery weather. The Pressure was giving centre was probably situated in 15°, 118° at noon and moving towards WNW.

way in Hongkong and rising in Luzon. At Bolinao the barometer read 29.67 at 1 p. with SE 4; at noon in 18° to 19° Lat. and 112° to 114° Long. moderate ENE and NE breezes prevailed with baro- meter 29.83; the SS. Glenfalloch at noon in 14° 09′, 113° 11′ had 29.82 with WNW 4, the barometer falling and the wind increasing to NW 6, as she steered towards N by E.

The barometer had risen On the 3rd at noon, the centre was situated in 16° 45', 114° 15'. about 0.1 inch at Bolinao (29.79) since the previous day and fallen about the same amount at Hoihow (29.75). Fresh and strong NE breezes prevailed between Hongkong and Hainan, moderate NW The breezes off the Annam coast and fresh SW breezes in 10°, 110° where the barometer read 29.81.

At noon she was situ- S.S. Chelydra, steering SSW, ran across the track just in front of the centre. ated 40 miles to the WNW and had NNE 5 quickly backing to NW 6 with very squally weather and high sea. The lowest recorded barometer reading (29.43) was made at 4 p. The S.S. Glenfalloch was turned round and steered towards S 30° W at 4 a. as the barometer was falling quickly with increas- ing wind from NNW. Thereafter the direction backed towards W and was of force 5. At 10 a. they

stood N 30° E and at noon the vessel was hove to with the centre bearing N at a distance of about 50 miles. A strong gale from SW and SSW, accompanied by terrific rainsqualls, was experienced during the afternoon, the force rapidly decreasing after 4p. when the barometer rose decidedly. The lowest reading, 29.57, was at 1 p. The S.S. Brindisi about 50 miles to the WSW of the Glenfalloch at noon and steering for Hongkong, also experienced a fresh SW backing gale during the evening.

On the 4th the centre which had moved towards NW, passsed to the East of Hoihow shortly before noon, its situation at this hour being 20° 30′, 110° 45′. The barometer (at noon, 29.58) had fallen, 0.2 inch at this station during the past 24 hours and a moderate gale from NW backing to WSW was experienced between 9 a. and 3 p., accompanied by frequent heavy rainsqualls. Strong SSE breezes At 3 p. blew in the neighbourhood of Hongkong and strong SW breezes off the SE coast of Hainan. a fresh NNW gale prevailed at Pakhoi, the barometer having fallen to 29.55, and observations made on board the S.S. Ask, lying in the port, show that the lowest barometer reading occurred between The course of 4 p. and 7 p. with the wind afterwards backing to WNW and to SSW next morning. the depression towards NW, seems to have been maintained on the mainland.

The disturbance moved across the China Sea at an average speed of about 12 miles per hour. The depression was one of high level and probably the barometric height at the centre was scarcely lower than 29.4 inches. The strongest wind reported was force 9 to 10.

At 11.10 a.,

"The

On the 6th at 10.15 a., “Depression in the Pacific to the East of Luzon." barometer is falling at Bolinao and along the SE coast of China, rising in the Gulf of Tongking.