640237-1896-Meteorological-Observations- — Page 2

972 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 10TH OCTOBER, 1896.

On the 31st pressure was still increasing on the China coast to the Northward of Swatow, the increase being most marked at Shanghai, 29.83. In Hongkong, 29.75 and at Bolinao, 29.82, the barometer was inclined to fall. Light to moderate winds chiefly from an E direction prevailed between Foochow and Hongkong; variable airs and calms in the China Sea in about 20° Lat., and light to fresh SW monsoon to the Southward of 18° Lat. In 124, 109° the barometer read 29.80 and in 6o, 107°, 29.92. There was thus on the 31st a gradient for E winds on the S coast of China and a gradient for SW winds over the greater part of the China Sea, the area of variable winds lying in from 19° to

21° Lat.

Between the 31st August and 1st September a general decrease of pressure occurred on the China coast, the decrease being most marked in the neighbourhood of Hongkong, where on the latter date the barometer read 29.66 at noon. A fall had also occurred at Bolinao, 29.79, and off the Annam coast in 12, 109° where the reading was 29.75. In Hongkong moderate to fresh ENE breezes, veer- ing to ESE in the evening, prevailed accompanied by rainsqualls, the barometer commencing to rise late at night. At about 75 miles distance to the SSW of Hongkong two vessels experienced very heavy rain with variable squally winds. Along the Annam coast fresh SW monsoon prevailed. observations indicate that at noon on the 1st, a shallow and probably elongated depression was lying off the coast to the Southward of Hongkong the central area of which was characterized by variable winds and squally and wet weather, and that a small cyclonic depression, which subsequently moved towards WNW, was formed in this area in the course of day.

The

On the morning of the 2nd the wind veered to SE and S of force 4 to 6 at Hongkong the baro- meter (noon 29.72) continuing to rise. The steamships Ask and Hongkong approaching Hainan Straits from the E during the morning, experienced, the former moderate to fresh SW and WV breezes with rainsqualls, and the latter moderate to fresh NW breezes with rain. In 20°, 110, the barometer read 29.61. Moderate to fresh SW monsoon prevailed in the China Sea to the Southward of 19° Lat., the barometer reading 29.82 in 9°, 109°. It thus appears that the small depression was lying between Hongkong and Hainan Head on the early morning of this day and at noon it was probably central in 21, 1114 The Pakhoi observations faintly indicate its passage to the northward of that station. Next day the barometer had risen along the $ coast of China with light to moderate winds from SE and S.

On the 5th at 4.15 p. Luzon."

On the 6th at 11.20 a. "The depression apparently remains in the Pacific. The barometer has risen in the North and on the SE coast, fallen moderately at Bolinao." Forecast:"light NW and varying winds; changeable, some showers,'

"There appears to be a depression in the Pacific to the East of North

On the 7th at 11.15 a. "Barometric changes are somewhat irregular; on the whole a slight fall has occurred on the China Coast and at Bolinao. The depression probably remains in the Pacific. Pressure is about 0.1 inch in defect in the S part of the Formosa Channel and in Luzon.”

"moderate N and NE winds; unsettled, showery."

Forecast:

On the 8th at 11.20 a. "The depression appears to be lying in the neighbourhood of the Loo Choo Islands with a trough of slightly low pressure extending from the Bashee Channel to the Paracels. Except a fall in Japan, barometric changes are unimportant." Forecast: moderate NE winds; unsettled, some rain."

On the 9th at 11.20 a. "Pressure is almost unchanged on the China Coast and in Luzon and, in the absence of the Japanese observations, conditions appear to remain as yesterday." Forecast:- "moderate NE winds; fine."

On the 10th at 11.15 a. "Yesterday afternoon the depression appears to have been lying to the South of Kiusin, Japan. No reports from thence this morning. The barometer is almost steady else- where, except a slight fall at Shanghai where pressure is now about 0.1 inch below the normal. Pressure also remains in defect at Bolinao and, apparently, across the middle part of the China Sea." Forecast light NE winds; fine."

On the 11th at 11.15 a. "The centre of the depression, which is moving slowly northwards, is situated close to the SE coast of Kiusiu, Japan. The barometer has fallen in the North, risen in the Formosa Channel and at Bolinao. A trough of slightly low pressure, between NE and SW winds, exists across the China Sea in about 17° Lat.” Forecast:- "light to moderate NE winds; fine."

On the 12th at 11.15 a. "The depression appears to have moved into the Sea of Japan. The barometer has fallen rapidly in the extreme North, risen moderately at Shanghai and is almost unchanged elsewhere."

The information received, at present, from the Pacific area is too scanty to permit of the track of the above depression being laid down with accuracy. It apparently remained to the Eastward of 150" Long, until the 7th, when it had probably approached the neighbourhood of the Southern Loo Choo Islands. Thence it appears to have slowly recurved, passing off the SE coast of Kiusiu on the morning of the 11th and near Kobe late the same evening, moving towards NNE into the Sea of Japan.

On the 12th at 11.15 a. "A depression seems to be forming in the trough of low pressure which exists across the China Sea in about 17° Lat. Forecast:-" moderate or fresh NE winds; fair."