Typhoon Wanda August 27 to September 2, 1962 Wanda formed on August 27 as a tropical depression over the Pacific about 1300 miles to the east-southeast of Hong Kong. Moving west-northwest towards the Luzon Strait at fifteen knots it gradually intensified and by the next day was a severe tropical storm. On August 29 a U.S.A.F. reconnaissance aircraft flew into the eye of the storm and report that the wind strength had reached hurricane force. By this time the circulation of the typhoon covered a wide area about 1000 miles across. Another aircraft reconnaissance on August 30 indicated that further intensification had occurred and 80 knot winds were reported near the centre. It continued to move towards Hong Kong and by the evening it was centred 400 miles east-southeast of the Colony, over the southern part of the Luzon Strait. No. 1 Local Storm Signal was hoisted at 7.45 p.m. Up to this time the winds over the Colony had been generally light or moderate but early the next morning they set in from the north and showed signs of freshening. The No. 3 Local Storm Signal was hoisted at 4.10 p.m. on August 31. The first rain came with a squall of north-northwest winds which moved west across the Colony during the early evening. By 9 a.m. typhoon "WANDA" was centred about 155 miles east-southeast of the Colony and was moving west or west-northwest at 10 knots. Although no strong winds had yet been reported it became certain that "WANDA" would pass close to the Colony the next day and No. 7 signal was hoisted at 10.50 p.m. The wind speed reached gale force with gusts to 48 knots at Waglan Island at 2.00 a.m. on September 1 when "WANDA" was centred about 105 miles away. At 4.15 a.m. No. 9 Local Storm Signal was hoisted to indicate that the gales were expected to increase. By this time winds over the harbour were averaging about 30 knots from the north-northwest but Walgan Island was reporting 40 knots with gusts to 57 knots. No. 10 Local Storm Signal was hoisted at 6.15 a.m. on September 1 when "WANDA" was centred some 50 miles away and moving directly towards the Colony. As the approach coincided with high tide, a warning was issued at 6.30 a.m. stating that the water would rise 6 feet above normal high tide in the harbour and much higher in Tolo Harbour with flooding over low-lying land. By 9 a.m. typhoon "WANDA" was centred over the eastern waters of the Colony and hurricance force winds were blowing over most of Hong Kong. Gusts of 116 knots were reported from Waglan Island and 154 knots from Tate's Cairn. It shows that the 10 minute mean wind 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 10.00 a.m. At about 9.30 a.m. a maximum gust of 140 knots was recorded at the Royal Observatory as the typhoon centre was passing south of Waglan Island. The centre of typhoon "WANDA" passed about 10 miles south of the Royal Observatory at 9.50 a.m. still moving west-northwest at 11 knots. Tides in Tolo Harbour rose about 10 feet above the normal high tide of 17 feet above chart datum, while the crests of wind-driven waves at Tai Po Kau reached about 23 feet above chart datum. Altogether nearly 12 inches of rainfall were recorded at the Royal Observatory. At 11.30 a.m. the eye of "WANDA" passed very close to Cheung Chau and it was almost calm there for a while. With the typhoon passing close to the south there was a rapid veering of winds to southeast over the whole Colony and although there was a temporary lull in many places the wind strength increased again. At noon gusts of 82 knots were still being reported from WagIan Island and 80 knot gusts were registered at the Royal Observatory at 12.30 p.m. By this time the typhoon was centred close to Lantau and was moving away to the west at 12 knots. No.10 signal was replaced by No. 6 at 2.15 p.m. to indicate that the wind might veer to the southwest. Although gales were still blowing at Waglan Island and Cheung Chau up to 6 p.m. the wind over the harbour area had dropped below gale force by this time. No. 3 signal replaced No. 6 Local Storm Signal at 7.05 p.m. and, as strong winds persisted, it could not be lowered until 12.45 a.m. on September 2 when all danger had passed. The typhoon moved inland over Guangdong and weakened rapidly during the morning.
