537
These
The following observations show the conditions prevailing at 9 p.m. Observatory barometer 29.64, wind North force 5, Waglan 29.58, N.N.W. 7, Gap Rock 29.57, N.N.W. 6: The swell reported by the latter station was now “moderate from E.S.E.”. observations appeared to indicate the probability of the typhoon centre reaching the coast in the neighbourhood of the Colony, and I then wired a message to that effect to Hongkong for distribution. The barometer at the Observatory still read only 0.12 inch below normal, but the gradient between here and the lighthouses was increasing.
The barometer now commenced to fall quickly and the wind to rise and at 11.15 p.m. (Standard Time) No. 3 night signal, accompanied by the firing of three bombs, was made. This indicated that the gale then blowing was likely to increase to full typhoon force. The following observations are from the Observatory records, the time being given in Hong- kong Mean Time.
Barom, at M.S.L.
Wind.
Dir.
Velocity. Miles per hour.
July 27th, 6 p.m.
29.65
N.
8
7
29.65
N.
12
23
29.63
N.
17
"
29.64
N.
26
་་
10
29.60
N.
39
#1
11
29.49
N.
53
19
midt.
29.24
N.E. by N.
75
July 28th, 1 a.mn.
28.93
E.S.E.
72*
2
29.30
S.S.E.
81
;"
"1
3
29.48
S.S.E.
54
"
29.58
17
S. by E.
42
29.63
S. by E.
36
:2
29.67
S.
23
A
The wind moderated some-
and S.--but rose squalls being not At about 2 a.m.
The barometric minimum, 28.85, occurred at 1 hr. 3 m. a.m. what at about 1 a.m.-the direction was veering quickly towards S. E. again a few minutes later and blew with greater fury than before, the only terrific but also of long duration between 1.15 a.m. and 1.45 a.m. the wind began to moderate. It is probable that the greater part of the damage on shore occurred during this interval. In the Observatory compound nearly all the damage was caused by the S.S.E. wind, trees and other debris falling towards N.W. and N.N.W.
Rain which practically ceased to fall between midnight and 1a.m. set in again at the latter hour, and lightning which had been first observed at 11 p.m. continued until 2 a.m. With the exception of the typhoon of September 18th, 1906, this is the only occasion on which lightning has been observed here near the centre of a typhoon during the past 25 years.
Thunder was not heard.
Observations subsequently received from Waglan and Gap Rock show that it blew with full typhoon force at the former station, from N.E. at midnight and from E.N.E. at I a.m., the barometer falling to 28.70 at the latter hour. At Gap Rock typhoon force was not recorded. The lowest barometer reading, 29.24, occurred at 1 a.m. with the wind a whole gale (force 10) from West, and subsequently at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. from S.W., when · it began to moderate. The gradient between the Observatory and Waglan at midnight was equivalent to just over half an inch in 15 miles.
These observations show that the centre of the typhoon passed within a distance of 10 miles to the Southward of the Observatory near 1 a.m.
Subsequently at about 7 a.m. the typhoon passed to the South and West of Canton. It had probably filled up to some extent but was still a severe storm.
* The record of wind velocity is not reliable probably from midnight The spindle carrying the cups saapped just above the supporting arms at some time during the night. The cups however continued to revolve, but loss of speed during the high velocities is certain to have occurred.
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