ENG-1962 — Page 320

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number one local storm signal was hoisted at 7.45 p.m. on 30th August. The following day was extremely hot with only moderate northerly winds; the number three local storm signal was hoisted at 4.10 p.m. and the first rain occurred with freshening north- north-west winds during the early evening. The winds dropped slightly after the rain, but the number seven signal was hoisted at 10.50 p.m. Gales were first reported at Waglan Island at 2 a.m. on 1st September when Wanda was 105 miles away.

At 4.15 a.m. the number nine local storm signal was hoisted to indicate that the gales were expected to increase. By this time winds over the harbour were averaging 30 knots from the north- north-west. The number 10 local storm signal was hoisted at 6.15 a.m. when Wanda was centred about 50 miles away and still moving directly toward the Colony. The closest approach was expected to coincide with high tide and a warning was issued at 6.30 a.m. stating that the water would rise six feet above normal high tide in the harbour and much higher in Tolo Harbour, with flooding over low lying land.

The centre of typhoon Wanda passed about 10 miles south of the Royal Observatory at about 9.50 a.m., still moving west-north- west at about 11 knots. Tides in Tolo Harbour rose about nine feet six inches above the normal high tide-nearly 17 feet above chart datum-and at Tai Po Kau crests of wind-driven waves reached about 23 feet above chart datum. Altogether nearly 12 inches of rainfall were recorded at the Royal Observatory. The mean wind at the Royal Observatory reached typhoon force at about 9.20 a.m. and rose to a maximum of about 78 knots at about 9.30 a.m. It decreased slightly as the eye passed, and then increased again to about 74 knots at about 10 a.m. After making corrections for the reduced density of the air and the calibration of the anemometer, the maximum gust at the Royal Observatory was 145 knots (167 mph) and at Tate's Cairn 164 knots (189 mph). The minimum pressure of 953.2 mbs (28.15 inches) was the lowest ever recorded in Hong Kong. Appendix X gives further figures for typhoon Wanda and other storms.

Typhoon Wanda was the worst typhoon since 1937 and one of the worst ever to strike the Colony. It wreaked havoc through- out the urban and rural areas, leaving 138 dead, 34 missing pre- sumed dead, over 130 injured and many thousands homeless.