Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 443

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The conditions prevailing at noon on the 24th were as follows:-

On the western side of the China Sea, below 20° Lat., strong SW monsoon prevailed and on the SE coast to the S of Amoy light to moderate E breezes prevailed. Another cyclonic circulation had been established in the China Sea to the S of Hongkong which will be dealt with later on.

In Southern Formosa light W and NW breezes and fine weather with barometer 29.65 at S. Cape, a rise of 0.09 during the previous 24 hours. At Anping 29.63, a rise of 0.07 in the same interval. In N. Formosa and at the N entrance to the channel light variable airs and fine weather with rising barometer. On the East Coast light to moderate E to N breezes and fine weather with the barometer inclined to fall in the neighbourhood of Steep Island.

The Oceana at noon in 27° 06′, 124° 35′, had a strong NNW breeze with overcast sky and drizzling rain and a high confused sea, barometer 29.52. The Asagao in 29° 58′, 126° 03', had a strong NE breeze with rain squalls. The Nurnberg in 29° 37', 125° 37', had a moderate NE breeze with drizzling rain, barometer 29.48. The Picciola in 27° 49′, 121° 26', had a light NNE breeze, clear sky and a high NE swell. The Meefoo had barometer 29.52, a light NE breeze with very heavy NË swell. She was at 4 p. in 28° 08′, 121° 50′.

The centre of disturbance at noon on the 24th may have been in 26°, 1271°, but this is very uncertain.

On the 25th at noon the stations on the East Coast showed a fall in the barometer of nearly a tenth of an inch since noou on the previous day, Winds varied in direction from a SW gentle to moderate breeze at the N entrance to the Formosa Channel, at Wenchow WSW 2, barometer 29.47, at Steep Island NW 5, barometer 29.53, at North Saddle N 4, barometer 29.52, at Woosung NNE 4, barometer 29.50. In Northern Formosa the wind was a light WSW breeze. At Tamsui barometer 29.61. Fine weather prevailed over this district and also on the East Coast.

From the vessels in this district we have the following observations. The Nurnberg had the wind backing from NNW from midnight July 24th to WSW at noon July 25th of force a strong to fresh breeze. The barometer had risen during this interval and read at noon 29.54, her position then being 26° 24', 121° 24'. The weather was cloudy but fine, but had been showery during the night. The Charters Tower was in 27° 07', 122° 36'. She experienced a fresh W breeze with heavy confused sea. but the weather was fine. The Verona was in 28° 07′, 123° 38′ and had a fresh WNW breeze with overcast squally weather and considerable cross sea, barometer 29.50 falling. During the afternoon the wind backed and increased in force. At midnight July 23rd it blew a moderate gale from W by S with overcast squally weather and a high confused sea, barometer 29.44 (lowest). At 8 p. there was a N swell. The Levuka was in 28° 57', 123° 39'. The barometer read 29.40 (reading uncorrected but thought to be nearly correct) and a fresh NNW gale was blowing with squally weather, the wind had backed since early morning and the barometer had fallen 0.10 since 6 a. During the afternoon and evening the barometer rose and the wind backed to WSW and decreased to a strong breeze. The Oceana was at noon in 28° 40', 128° 04'. The wind had backed since noon of the previous day. midnight July 24th she had a moderate W gale with hard squalls and the sea rising with NË swell, barometer 29.29. At 4 a. July 25th, barometer 29.24 (lowest recorded) the wind had come to SW and blew a fresh gale with hard squalls. Lightning was observed in NNE and WNW. At noon the barometer showed a rise of 0.25 since 4 a. and now read 29.49, the wind being a fresh S gale with irregular sea. Later the wind moderated and at midnight was a moderate S breeze. The Phra Nang was at noon in 31° 28', 131° 51'. She had a moderate SSE breeze with drizzling rain and moderate sea, barometer 29.68. The Airlie at noon in 31° 10′, 125° 58′ had a moderate NE breeze, the sky overcast and a high swell. During the evening the wind backed to NNW and increased in force to a strong breeze with overcast rainy weather and a heavy E swell. The barometer readings from this ship are unfortunately worthless, the instrument being out of order. The Picciola was in 30° 44', 122 48'. She had a fresh NNE breeze with high confused sea.

At

The centre was at noon on the 25th in 29°, 126°. The Oceana and Levuka were hoth at one time comparatively near to the centre as evidenced by the wind direction changing so quickly and it is doubtful whether there was any very considerable depression at the centre and probably storm force was not attained. The path between the 22nd and 24th July is dotted as it is not absolutely certain that the centre of depression of the 25th can be connected with the typhoon which passed over Formosa on the 22nd and in any case this portion of the track is very uncertain owing to lack of observations.

During the early morning of the 26th the lighthouse stations at the mouth of the Yang-tze-kiang recorded the lowest reading of the barometer, the wind at the same time backing from N and NNE to NNW and NW, the force being from a moderate to strong breeze. The weather was overcast and gloomy with occasional showers at some stations. At North Saddle the lowest barometer reading was at 3 a. 29.45. Further South at Steep Island the lowest reading of the barometer occurred some time after 9 p. of the 25th. At 3 a. the reading was 29.49 and the wind which had been NW force 5 at 9 p. had backed to W with the same force at 3 a. Rain fell between 6 and 9 a.