MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW.
~
VOL. XIII. WASHINGTON CITY, DECEMBER, 1885. No. 12.
INTRODUCTZON.
This REVIEW contains a general summary of the meteor0
logical ctonditions which prevailed over the United States and
Canada during December, 1885, based upon the reports fron:
the regular and voluntary observers of tlie Signal Service mid
from co-operating state weather services.
Descriptions of the storms which occurred, over the north
Atlantic Oceau during the month are also given, and t,lieir ap
proximate paths shown on chart i.
The paths of the centres of ten areas of low pressure are
traced on the chart for December, 1885, tlie average numbei
for that month during the last twelve gears being 12.6.
The month was warmer than the avera.ge in all districts west
of the Mississippi River, except in the west Gulf states, where
the temperature was normal; in the south At.lsntic and east
Gulf states the month was colder thau the average; in the
northern districts east of the Mississippi River the departures
were slight, though generally above the normal temperature.
The minfall was below the average over the greater part 01
the country, the deficiencies being greatest in the Ohio Valley,
Tennessee, west Gulf states, and north Pacitic coast region.
Along the Atlantic coast, south of New E n g h d , the precipi-
tation was above the average, the excess being greatest on the
south Atlantic coast.
With this REVIEW are published two additional charts,
numbers v aud vi. The former exhibits the anuual isotherms
for 1885, and the departures from the normal temperature ;
the latter shows the aunuJ precipitation for the same year.
In t h e preparation of this REVIEW the following data,
received up .to January 20, 1886, have been used, vis., the
regular tri-daily weather-charts, containing data of simulta-
neoiis observations taken at one hundred and thirty-three
Signal Service stations and eighteen Canadian stations, as tele-
graphed to this office; one hundred and sixty-one monthly
journals and one hundred aud sixty-three monthly means from
the former, and eighteen monthly means from the latter; two
hundred and uine$y monthly registers from voluntary observ-
ers ; forty-four monthly register& from United Stat.es Army post
surgeons ; marine records ; international simul toneoils observa-
tiom; marine reports through the co-operation of the “New
York Herald Weather Service;” abstracts of ships’ logs, fur-
nished by the publishersof “The New York MaritimeRegister ;”
monthly weather reports from the New England Meteorologi-
cal Society, atid from the local weather services of Alabama,
Indiana,, Iowa, MinnesotcE, Miwouri, Nebraska, Ohio, a,nd Ten-
nessee, and of the Centrid Pacific Bailway Company; trust,-
worthy newspaper extracts, and special reports.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
[Expressed in inches atid hundredths.]
The mean atmospheric pressure for December, 1885, deter- miued from the tri-tiaily telegraphic observations of the Signal Service, is shown by isobarometric lines on chart ik The mea.n pressure for the month is greatest over the centrad
Rocky Mountain districts and least over the Canadian Mari- time Provinces. Over the first-mentioned region the baro-
metric means generally range from 30.9 to 30.3, while over the latter they fall to 29.9, or slightly below. The mean pressure exceeds 30.1 over nearly the entire countrj, the exceptions being the northern and southern Pacific coast regions and over the northern part of the country to the east of the Mississippi River. In eastern Tennessee and the Gulf Sta.tes, except southern Texas, the mean pressure is nlightly in excess of 30.16. A comparison with the mean pressure for the preceding month shows an increase over the entire country, with the ex- cept,ion of‘ the Canadian Maritmime Provinces, where a slight decrea,se has occnrred. The greatest difference is shown on the north Pacilic coast, where the barometric means are from
.20 to 2 5 higher than for November. Over t h e Rocky Mountain districts the differeuce ranges from .01 to .lo, and over the cen- t,ml and southern districta to the eastward it is slightly in
excess of .10
The depa.rtures from the normal pressure at the various Signal Service stations are given in the t,ablesof miscellaneoue meteorological data, and on chart iv they are exhibit,ed by lines connecting stations of equal departure. In the Gulf States, central and southeru Rocky Mountain districtx, and on t h e Pacific coaat, the mean pressure is above the normal, the de- partures not exceeding .lo, except at Santa FB, New Mexico,
where it amounts to .11. Over the northern districts to the east of Washington Territory, and over the central portions of the country east of the Rocky Mountains, the pressure is below the norma.1, the departures being most marked in New Eng-
land and portions of the lower lake region a.nd middle Atlantic
states, where they range from .10 to .19.
BAROMETRIC RANGES.
The monthly barometric ranges at the various Signal Service stations are also given in the tables of miscellaneous data. l’hey mere greatest in New Englaiid aud lea&, in the southern portions of Florida and California. The following are Rome of the extreme rauges: - __-_ -
Grentest.
-. ..... - .... -. ....... -
Inchre Eaatport, Maine ................................... I.*
Portland, Malne ................................... 1.71
Bwton, nfnssachnnatts ........................ 1.61
llbnny, New York. .............................. 1.61
)nwego, New York ............................... 1.58 Block Ialand, Rhode laland. ................. 1.9
Yew Harm Connecticut ..................... 1.57 Befinlo, N& Yort ................................ I.*
Erie, Pennsylvvnla .............................. 1-56
- ---
Least.
I n c h .
0.59 San Lnia Obispo. California
Key Went, Florida _ ............................ 0.c
0.4s Lon Angeles, California Sauford Florida .................................. 0.61
Cednr Keys: Floridu ........................... 0.65
Y uma. .4risona ...................................
Preaoott, Arizona
................ ......................
Fort G r h Arixona ............................ 0.64
Fort Apache, Arizona ......................... z:2 ................................ asr
On the north Pacific coaat, and in all diatricts east of the Rocky Mountains to the north of t h e thirty-fifth parallel, the
monthly ranges exceeded 1.00.
Six areas of high pressure were traced ’ from t.he Rocky Mountain regions to the Atlantic coast after the 6th of the month ; prerioiis to that date the high area,, which had formed
AREAS O F HIGH PRESSURE.
w 3
!294 MOXTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. DEOEMBEE, 1885.
-- - . . . .- - _- .- -. . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . ..
over the northern and central plateau regious during the lat-
ter portion of November, .remained almost statiowwy, t,he presaure ranging from 30.30 to 30.60. The geueral direction of progressive niorement of these areas wits t.6 the southeast
' until they .reached the At.lautic coat&, where t.he course changed to east, or slightly to the north of east. I.-This high area formed north of Dakota on the rnorui ng of the 6th, and probably resulted from the ewterly monment of the area, previously referred to, exbendiiig over the northern plateau regiou ; ttiia last-named condition t1is;rppeared before
the advance of the low mea from the north Pacific coa.st. The weather chart of the morning of the 6th exhibited R well- defined storm-centre about oue thousaud miles to t.lie south-
east, and it second slight depression about the same dintauce to the west of thie high area.. After the advance movement had set in from the extreme northwetit the rate was about fifty miles per hour, while the low area continued its easterly mume at the rate of twenty-five miles per hour. The pressure rauged from .2 to .3 above the uormal within this areti, and it increased after reaching the Atlantic coast ; it moved directly east from the Ohio Valley during the 7th, and iucliued to the northeut after pamsing the coast line. No uuiisiial chauge of temperature occurred dnriug the trausit of tlii8 area over the United States, although it wa8 frotn 20° to 30° Mow the nor- mal for the month near the line of greatest pressure. 11.-The pressure incrercsecl in the northern and central
mal during the 10th ; i t was .3 above the nortnal in the Mis- sissippi Valley, and .3 to .4 above the normal from Moutaua westward to the Pacific coast on the morning of tlie lltli, when this area extended from the north Pacific coast south-
w a d to the Gulf coast. The morning weather chart of the 11th indicated that this area of high pressure had three dis- tinct centres, one in the east Gulf, one in the lower Missouri valley, and one in Montzwa, the pressure being greeate8t iu the
last-named. The morning reports of the 11th ahowed an enat- erly movement of these areas after uniting, forming a well- defined Ringle area extending over the central valleys ; this
area extended from the Atlantic comt to the north Pacific coast on the l l t h , and waa attended by generally fai.r weather, except in the Lake regions and the southern Rocky Mouutain
stations, where light snows occurred. I t moved eastwardly, with increasing presRure, during tlie 12t11, and a trough of low pmssure extended from Texaa to Mauitobtt, aplmreutly divid- ing this extended area, leaving the barometer from .3 to .4
above the normal over the Pacific coast and plateau regions.
As it approached the coast the pressure increasod from 30.60
to 30.70, the mea became lesR extended and the bounding isobars more uniform in curvature, the gradients being great-
est in the southwest and uorthewt quadrants ; the area moved
to the northeast after passing over the middle Atlantic states,
and waa quickly followed by general rains or mows in all dis- tricts east of the Mississippi during the 13th and 13th; this precipitation resulted from the storm that moved uortheast- wardly from the west Gulf coast. A light "norther '7 occurred on the Texrts coast before the imion of these t,hree areas pre- viously referred to, and killing frosts occurred H.R far south as
8w Antonio, Texas, ou the 10th. 111.-When the previously-described wea passed off the At- lantic coast, this area extended over the north Pacific coast,
the two being separated by a storm of considerable energy,
which was moving northward from the Gulfcoast. During the 13th t h e pressure iucreawd over the upper Missouri vdley, the
line of greatest pressure extending southwestward from Maui- toba to southern California ; during the same date the storni from the Gulfcottst moved rapidly northward to the Lake re-
gion, causing general rain or snow. During the northward movenieut of this low area there waR t~ rapid moyemeut of translation in the area of high pressure from the upper Missouri vallej to the west Gulf states, and the cold atterrding these ehanges caused killing frosts as far south as Indiitnola, Texas,
and the Bio Graude Valley on the morning of the 14th ; the
Rocky Mountain regious on the 9th, and contiuued e l 6 b 0'70 UOr-
barometer was 30.55 at Rio Grande City, Texas, on this date, while it weconclary high areti. remained over t,he central plateau region. . The pressure iiicresned over the Sonthern States along the Gulf coat& cluritig the litli, attended by cold aud freezing weather throughout the Gulf and eonth Atlantic states; by the morning of the l'itli this area Itad disappeared
to the ea&mml ofthe south Atlantic coast. IV.-ThiH high area aplJeared north of Mianesotaon the 15th, and moved rapidly easbwi1,rd north of the Like region during t.he Mth, causiiig a slight cold ware in the Saint Lawrence
Valley HUCI New Eiiglaarl. At midnight of the 17th it ww cetit,r;ll in the lower Haitit Lawrence valley, where the pressure
WIN .5 abow the uorma.1. Light SIIOWS occurred on the New England coast ;bud \ventward over the lower lake region 88
this area moved ewtwiircl. On the morning of the 18th it ex- tended over the Maritime 'Provinces, where tlie temperature
rauged from -16O to +Zoo. This area disappeitred Fdpidly to the east of Nova Scotia tluriug the 18th. V.-Thiti area fortued slowl,y over the southern ltocky Moun- tain regiou during the lTth, while 8 low urea moved northward
from the Pibcific cowt region to Manitoba; it extended lowly
northward and eastward duriug the l'ith, covering the ehtire Bock?. Mouuta,iii regions during the 17th and 18th, the move- ment being i n the direct.iou of the area of low pressure pre- vious!y referred to; it extended over the Saint Lawrence Valley during the 19th and Wth, accompanied by fair weather,
and with temperatures genenerslly above normal. The pressure contiuuetl high in the Southern States and in the southern Rocky Mount~in region during the 40th aiid Olst, with warm, fiiir weather, while this area moved southeastward to the south Atlantic coast and disappeared. VI.-As in the previow area. described, the pressure gradii- ally increased in the soiitliern elid ceutrltl Rocky Mouutain regious, and there was R gradual rise ill the barometer ou the
22d and 23d, resulting i n the formation of this extended a-rea of high pressure within the limits of the ststious ofobservation.
The area extended northeastwardly, r~ud the pressure waa greatest in northern Minnesot,a at midnight of the 24tli, the
line of greatest pressore extending UOrthoaRt and southwest, while there were indica,tions of low areas existing east of the south Atliintic co:OIit+t and tlie nort,h Rwific coa.~t. I t was central uortli of the Luke regiou at midnight of the %th, the muth- west half of thiR area coveriug the greater portion of the Uuited States east of the Rocky Mountains; the gradients were in- creased rapidly to the westward, owing to the advauce of the low areR froin the PaciEc coast ; they also iucreased rapidly to the southward, owiug to the northerly movemeet of the storm-
centre east of the south Atltintic coast. Dangerons'northeaat galos occurred from Boston, Massachnsetts, southward to Wil- mingtou, North Carolina, on the morning of the 26th, the temperature ranging from 30O to .W0 below the normal, and
froni 00 to -15O in the Silint Lawrence Valley when the press- ure reached its maximum in this region on the 36th. The rapid movement northward of the ~t o r m on the Atlantic coast apparently prevented the further movement of this area to the enstward, aiid the gradieuts increased on the middle Atlantic
coast, causing violent galeR on the 26th and 27th, while the high area moved sontliwentward from the Saint Lawrence Valler to the Ohio Valley and the east Gulf states, the press- ure duriug this movement diminishing from 30.80 to 30.30; duriug the 38th and 29th the area disappeared by a gradual
fall of tlie barometer, witliout any apparent movement of trans- lation. A slight area of high pressure formed in the Rocky Mountain region on the 29th, but disappeared without extending overthe regious to the eastward.
AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE.
Teu area8 of low pressure Itave been traced over the United States, or near the limits of the stations of observstion, dnriug the month ; five low areas either originated in British Amer- ica, uortli of' the hrritories, or on the uortli Pacific coast; two
DECEMBER, 1886. MOAWHLY WEATEER BEVIEW. a96.
.. i I First olnervwl.
I ... - - .... ....
' Lat. N . 'Long. W.
Low a m .
.-I ...... _ , 0 1 , o *
77 00
............................................ 48w 8100
v .............................................. ! 3400 10000
VI .............................................. 1 1 7 0 0 I0000
VI1 ........................................... I 5 2 0 0 9900
VI11 ..........................................
b 53 00 IO1 GO
I X ............................................... I ............................. x .............................................. i 3700 10200
Nu. I ............................................... . 30 01
I I1 .............................................. goo0
IV 111 ............................................. :q 1 1 1 0 0
Lant nbsrrrecl. .4vcrage
velocity in nrilpa jwr
Lat. N. Long W. hoar.
--I ..
$El
:;:I EJ n.1
0 1
k I 74 00 12.'
30.8
40.8 30.1
$900 3 '
4900 6400 30.' 40.1
4900 28d
it:
4800 4%
111.-This low area was probably central on the British Stneric~n coast wlteii tlie preceding storm was north of t h e
Lake region; it crossed the Rocky Mountiiins north of Mon- titnii, iiud without causing any niarked change within the high area then covering the Rocky Mountain districts; its course was inore to the southeast than that of the preceding areas; while they moved over nearly parallel tracks, number iii entered the United States uear the Montanaline and moved southeast- ward, with iucreasiiig energy; it was central near Saint Paul, Minnesota, at midnight of the 3d, while number ii was central near Father Point;, Province of Quebec; the southeast mum
cont8iniied until the ceutre reached southern Michigan, when the course changed; the storm followed the lower lake region end the Saint Lawrence Valley and passed beyond the stations
of observation. ThiR storm WBA unusually severe in the west qiradrants oti the 4th and 5th; the gradient was rhpid to the west. and also to.the east; after the centre reached New Eug land, i t was followed by a cold ware which waq most severe
in tlie Northwest, and caused general snows in the Northern States and as far soiitli as the Golf and south Atlantic states on the 4th and 5th, and severe gales occurred on t-he coast from Jacksonville, Florida, northward to Sytlncg, Nova Scotia, aud in tlie lower lake region ; a dry b L norther " occurred in Texae
ou the 5th. Signals were displayed, giving ample warning of the advance of this storm. The following notes from ob~er.ver8, relative to this storm,
are of interest :
Buffalo, New York : a violent snow storm occurred UII the 5-6th, the wind reaching a maximnm docity of fort -eight miles per hour - signs, treee, fences, and out-bnildings suffered from t i e gale ; trains from all directions were delayed ; i ~n Lake Erie the storm was unusually severe. The warnings gave entire sictisfaction tu all interested, being timely, and fully justified ; no vessel leR )art, and the compliment to the service is all the more great 88 many of tile largest steamem were ready to sail when the cautionary hgnal wm dis Iayed. &leveland, Ohio: n heavp snow storm, accompanied by high winds, occurred on the 6th and 6th. Panduskv, Ohio : the severest gale of the Reason occurred ou the 6th, con- tinuing intb the 6th, the wind reaching a maximum velocity of fiftysix miles er liour. The signal dis la caused three heavily-laden vessels to remain in garbor that would rubabry iave been lost. Grand Haven, dchigan: a high westerly gale, pronounced by vesselmen to have been the worst storm ever experienced on the Lakes, occurred on the 4th and 5th. Detroit, Michipn: a heavy northwest gale prevailed on the 5th and 6th nnnaiial in severity, with the temperature Bo to 10' below zero; seved vessels hare been wrecked, and great damage done to shipping interests on the
Lakes. Chicago, Illinois: a SIIOH' storin of unusual violence occurred on the 4th, the rind blowing a heavy gale from the northwest; Lake Michingan was very rough, the heavy sea causing great destruction of pro erty along the shore; many vessels remained in harbor, and mariners cons& the timely warning was the means of saving a large amount of property. Nilwaukee, Wisconsin: an unusually heavy gale occurred on the 44th. the wind reachin a telocity of forty-four miles per hour; the water-works pier wm partiall , anfthe'breakwater entire1 , destroyed; the damage was quite severe along t i e shore and for a considerade distance into the interior. Port Huron, Nichi an: a violent gale, accompanied with heavy snow, oc-
rnrred on the 4th auf 5th, the wind reaching a velocity of thirty-nine milas per hour at 6.20 a. m. of the Gth; considerable damage was done by the wind. Mackinaw City, Michigan: a severe gale began at 12.15 a. m. of the 4th,
continuin throughout the day; the warning of the cold wave included in the
order to %oist cautionary signal waa of eat benefit to merchants, railroad agents etc.; the Michigan Central railroax by the timely warning, saved a car load o# otatoes from freezing. Erie, $ennsylvanis: a heavp northwest gale occurred on the 6th accom IC
nied by heavy snow, the wind reaching a maximum velocity ob forty-& miles per hour; considerable damage was done don the beach. Smithville, North Carolina: a heavy southwest galeqbepn at 11.30 p. m. of the gth, and continued until the afternoon of the 6th, the wind reaching a velocity of fortyone miles per hour. Two wharves were washed away along the town rront, and the schooner "Rebecca H. Queen" waa driven Lhore near New Met, North Carolina; the probability of saving vessel or car doubtful. The schooner ' I Paragon," from Charleston, South Carolina, bounfh Waahuq North Carolina, sank during this gale, sixty miles off Ca e Fear, North Caro-
lina. Nany vessels heeded warnin and remained in hargor. Racine, Wisconsin : the storm ofthe 4th was the most severe that has been Psperienced in this vicinity for several years. Considerable damage was done
to the piers and lake shore protections. Cairo, Illinois : the high wind of the 4th, which accompanied the cold wave,
was very destructiye to navigation between here and Paducah, Kentucky ; mv-
296 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. DECEMBER, 1886;
eral large produce boats were dashed to pieces. Sixteen niiles north of this
city a large roduce boat loaded with pot.atoes, was completl wrecked, and air of the crew Srokned. $he river men took timely warning d i n the afternoon bulletin, which pre-announced the cold wave and high wind, and all river craft were made doubly secure. The produce merchants took recaution to prevent the freezin of perishable goods, and suffered no low. !&e cold-rave warnin was a decised benefit, and highly appreciated by the entire community. SanbBeach, Huron county, Michigan : the worst storm in twenty yemy oc- curred on the 5th, the whole rotection wall of the harbor hreakwafer waq
washed away and a breach oFfire hundred feet formed in the main wall. Great damage was also done to the shipping interests. Louisville, Kentucky : R Revere gale commenced r t (i.45 13. ni. of the 4th and continued throughont. the evening. Considerahle damage WM cansed by the wind. Falliiig signs, shatters, etc., made travel on the streeta dangeroua, and several slight casualties arc reported. On the river f~~unt. much ditlicult,y was ex erienced in holding vessels to their moorings. termillion, Dakota : a rery heavv wind prevdled on the Mi, doing consicl- enable damage to huildings in this dcinity. Farmingdale, Bledsoe county, Tennessee: at 11.80 . ni. of the 4th u fiirious
wind storm, frou the noi-thwest, suddenly came on ant!, for tive niinut.es, blew with great force, breaking down considerable timber in t.hu forests.
Saint Louis, Missouri : a rery high wind prevailed here on the 4th. Con- siderable damage was done in various parts of the city. Kansae City, Jackson county, Missouri : one of the severest wind st.orms
ever experienced at this place occurred on t,he 4th ; considerable damage was done to movable property. Carthage, Jasper county, Missouri : the highest wind known for years began on the 3d, and continned-without intermission for thirty.hours. Wichita, Sedgwick connty, KRIIWS : a heavy gale occurred uti the 4th, doing considerable damage t.o l~nildings ; veh;r.lefi were overt.nrned in t.he streets, and chimneys blown dowu. Concordia, Cloud coiiiity, Kansas : a destriictiw wind storm ucciirred oil
the ith, unroofin buildings, blowing down chimneys, out-huildings. etc. Leavenworth,. gansas : a heavy gale occnrred OII the 4th, doing ci>nsidrra- ble damage to moperty in t.he city. Elk Falls, E h connty, Kansas : a severe gale oil t.he 4th iinrnofed buildiilgn, and .csnsed serious damage. Independence, Montgomery county, KansiG : Q fitrong ga.le occurred on t.he 4th, which cansed considerable daninge tn hay-st,acks ; several small hoiises
were blown over. Omaha, Nebraska : the severest wind st.orni ill the history of this city occurred on the 4th ; ut least fiRv houses were partiallv or wholly iinroofed
and miles of fencing prostrated; the damage is edmated at. $lrj,OM to
$zo,ooo. Ytockham, Hamilton count.y, Nebraska : a heavy wind, causing serious damage to wind-mills, houses, aud other )JrOpel.t.V, occurred on the 4th. Harvard, Clay county, NelJrnskn : a high wind on the 4th Mew down winrl-
mills and other bidding. Central City, Gilpin count.y, Colorado: tinom i to !I p. in. of the 4th n
violent wind prevailed, doing a great deal oftlamage.
IT.-When the low area, previously described, was moving
over the Saint Lawreuce Valley, a secondary storm-centre de- veloped north of Lake Hurou, causing the storm of the 4th to
continue until a,fter the 6th. The bnrouieter, although unusu- ally low, in this secondary mea was still lower, being below
28.80 within the principal area, which wa8 north of the Mari- time Provinces on the 6th, while this depression moved across the upper Saint Lawrence d l e y and disappeared to the uorth- eat, caiisiug severe gdes on the 7th and Sth, at t h e northeast Canadian stations and ou the New England itnd middle At-
lan tic coasts.
V.-This storm probably doveloped ou the north Piicific coast, or over the north plateau region, although it, is not possible to
trace it further to the west than uorthern Texas; it nioved
slowly eastward to tlie ceutral Mississippi VJleg dnriug the. 8th, and the trough of low pressure erteuded iiortliward to t,lie Lake regions, while liiglr itreits covered the Atlautic and central Pacific mash ; the area of precipitation included all t1istrict.s
east of the Rocky MountaiuN. General rains fell i n tile enst and south quadrants, followed by snow when the cold wave,
which followed, passed over thewe districts ; the direction of movement was almost directlg north until the ceutre passed
over Lake Huron, when it apparently changed to northerast,
and disappeared cliiring the 10th. This storin wil,s severe in many IocalitieR, and athinet1 its i1ii~~in11111i etiergy while pass-
ing over the upper lake region on the 9t,li. The strongest wind
occurred ou Lake Michigsn, in the southwest qiiadrautn. The observer at Grand Haveu, Micliiga,u, reports zts fidlows, relit- tive to t h i s storm : “A heavy southerly gale, having an srerage velocity of forty-eight miles l)er hour, occurred on t h e 9t.h :
very heavy sea.8 swept the piers, doing great damage; the outer lighthouse was niored fifteen feet from its foundation, and turued 1ia.If way aroiiud.” VI.-This storm had its origiu in the Southwost, although there are indicatious that it may have originated further b
the west, or in the south Paciiic coast region. On the rnorn- ing of the 13th im extended high area covered the region eaat of
the Mississippi River, and a high area also covered tho Pacific
coast, while this low area WRY apparently forming i n muthern Texas, the pressure being .S to .4 above the uormal for the month. The high pressure already described iu the east, es- tended westward over this region. The general distribution of pressure, the 8umeding iuovements of the high aud low areas, and the track of’ t h i s low area, are very similar to the corresponding oonditious atteuding the preceding ,storm, with the exception ellat this storm piissed from southeru Texas to the lower lake region over a course east of, and newly parallel to the trttck of, the precediug storm. Rain or snow. occurred in all districts during the piisssitge of this area, and i t was fol- lowed by a cold wave which caused freezing weather throngh- out the Soutlieru St,atttes on t,he 14th and 15th. I t waa Revere on the Atlautic coast, where signals announced t h e approach of this storm in ample time to prevent IONS. The obserrer at New Loudon, Connecticut, reports that tlie gale w w niinsually severe on t,be 13th, nnrl that the harbor was full of shipping, none of which left duriug the disp1n.y of the signal. Thin dis-
turbance lost much of ita energy while passing over the Saiut Lawreuce Valley, and the area became more exteuded, but the barometer remained low at statiolis northeast of New Euglaiid on the 16th. VIL-This storm was probably central on the north Pacific co:ist ou the Mth, where general raina were reported from Sen Francisco, Califoruia, northward. The depression pwsed east- ward rapidly, lea,ving the barometer high at the central Ebocky Moiiiitrtiii stations, but it could uot be definitely located uutil the 10 p. in. report of tlie l’ith, when it was north of Manitoba. From this point tlie storm moved southeasterly, crossing over
the northern portiou of Lake Superior and tlie upper Sttint Lawrence viilley to t h e New England coast, where it% course changed to t h e northward, aud disappeared ou the 21st. It waa severe near the centre of disturbance after it 1.em1ied the lower lake regiou. The pressure decreased uear the centre as
it. approached the mast, but its maximum euergy occurred sonie time before the barometer reached its miuimum. VU.-The barometer was low ou the Pacific coat, amm- pauied by general rains, previous to the a.ppearance of this area in Mauitoba on the Blst. The barometer was high at the
southern stations, the centre of greatest preRsure being iu the east Gulf states, while it was low ou the northern boundary of the United States from the Saint Lawrence Valley to Oregon. As this storm ripproached Lake Superior, light rains occurred in the adjoiuiug c1istrict.s on the 23cl and 23d. I t developed coiisiclerable energy before its course changed to the uortheast on the 23d, after which it decrerlsed in energy. The most wutherly point of‘ its course WHO reiiched wheu its centre waa nenr Lake Huron.
E.-This storm probably had its origiu far to the south of the point marked HR its cent,re on the 36th. Its course w m altriost directly nort,li, while pisaiug sufflcient.ly uear the coast
to render it possible to approximately locate its ceutre at ea&
of the tri-clitilg telegraphic reports. The liigh area over the eiiwterri portion of the coubinent at the time thin storm WM
nioriug northward, east of the coast, ,CiII1Hed a very rapid in- crease in tlie grotlietit, iind the g;i-les resultiug were unusually severe, a,s sho\vu from reports of the observers on the coast.
The advance of this storm-centre to the north apparently ellil-llged the couree of the iuovenient of the high a.rea to the west, causing it t.o inove soiithward and disappear by ;t gradcia1 tl i mi n 11 ti on of press 11 re, as pre v ioiisl y described. The following uotes and reports of observer8 refer to coudi- tions a,ttending this storm.
Kitty Hawk, Ncirtli Cartilinr: a nnrthcrly @le occnrred nn the 25th, cou-
DECEMBER, 11185. MONTELY WEATHER REVIEW. 207
tinning throughout the 2tith. the wind reachin a maximum velocity of sixty- five miles per hour and averaging 60.7 miles &r the entire twenty-four hours. Cape Henlopen, helaware: a severe northeast @e, with heavy drifts of sand, occurred on the 26th; several caqualties to shipping are reported. Chincoteague, Virginia: a very heavy gale occnrred on the YGth, the wind attainin a velocity of fitly-fonr miles per hour; many vessels remained i n harbor %iring the signal displar. Block Island, Rhode Island: a violent northeast gale occurred on the SBth, continuing thronghout the 37th, the wind reaching a masimnm velocity of sixty miles er hour; several casualties to shipping are reported. Boston, I 3‘; assachnaetts : the most xerere gale that has been experienced for several years occurred on the 26th. Many wrecks are reported, and consider- able damage was done along the coast. Eastport, Maine, a heavy gale, altended with snow and sleet, began at 5.80
a m. of the 26th and continued for thirty-two hours, the wind reaching a maximiim velocity of forty-three i d e s per hour. Three steamers and thirty-
one schoonem remained in port ; several wrecks are reported within a radins of twenty-five milep. Portland, Maine: the gale of the 26th was very disastrous along the coast ;
several wrecks were reported.
The followiiig is an estract from the Ch:wlestoii (South Caro-
liua) “ News and Courier :”
Captaiu J. H. I. Donahot), of the schooner “J . B. Atkin*~~ii,‘. frinin Mobile Alabama, 1lound for New York City,.reports that ou the %th, when abont
thirty miles north of Cape Hatteras, he encountered a terrific gale from the north-northeast. which carried away a portion of the riggin the heavy sea
waqhed away art of the deck-load and stove in the cabin. %ad it not been far bags of oaEum and oil. which were towed astern and hoke the force of the waves, the vessel would 1irohbly have lieen lost. 8werd nf the crew were
badly injured.
X.-This depression was first marked as central in the cell- tral Rocky Mountain region, although it appirently resulted in the barometric depression existing to the sout1iw;irrl ;tnd wits
probably urged to the eastward by the higli area thcu existing
to the uorth and west, the course of the low mea being to the
northeast over the upper lake regiou during tlie 59th aut1 30th ; when i t passed to the MissiHNippi Valley it WBH elongated in a
north and south directiou, but the bounding isobars rapidly contracted while advancing towards the Lake regiou. The rainfall w u general, but light, except uear the centre. On the morning of the 31st a secondary depreasiou developed in the middle Atlantic states, which moved rapidly along the coast
to the northeast, iucreasing gr~lnally in euergy, and forming t h e principal feature of the storm, while the primary rlisturb- ance lost energy, and finally united with the secoudary de- pression, which passed along the New England coast and dis- appeared over the Atlantic after the close of the mouth.
NORTH ATLANTIC S’1’0RMS DURING DECEMRER, 1885.
[ Aessure expressed in i n c h aid ttiillittbetrea; ruirrd;force by scale of 0.10.1
The tracks of the are= of low pressure that have appeared over the north Atlantic Oceaii are determined, approximately, from iuteruational simiil taueons observations fwuished by captains of ocean steamships and sailing vessels ; abstracts of
ships’ logs and special reports collected by the Signal Service agencies at the ports of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia; reportR received through the co-operation of the “ New York
Herald Weather Service ; ” abstracts of ships’ logs furnished by the proprietors of the “New York Maritime Register,” and from other miscellaueous date, received at this office up
The paths of ten areas of low pressure ;ire shown on the
chart for December, 18%. Of these, tbnr, viz., uiiiiiberx 4, 5,
8, and 10, are coiitiuiiations of low areas wliicli entered the
Atleutic from the Gulf of Saiut Lawreuee, hitviug previously passed over the United States and Cauada; oue, uiimber 3, i n
a contiuuatiou of an area of low pressure which developed near t h e cmst of Florida 011 the lst, and which citl1sed mod-
erate to strong gales at stations on the sotit11 Atlantic coast
before passiug out to sea. One, number 9, was a storm whicli developed stiddeuly on the 19th, near N. 45O, W. 50°; i t
moved uortheastwi~rd, iiucl probably united, when northeast of Newfoundlaud, with number 10. The remaining low arem,
numbers 1, 3, 6, and 7, apparently developed over the ocean
to Janui1l.g 22, 1886.
__ .. - -
ea& of the fortieth meridian aud between N. fi0 rind 5 5 O . The. general direction of movement of the storm-centres was north- easterly or east-northeasterly, except in the cme of number 4, which, on reaching W. 25O, Wits forced to the southeast and south by the formation of an area of high pressure over the British Isles and over tlie ocean north of the fiftieth pirallel. The weather over the north Atlantic Ocmu during Decem-
ber, 18H5, was stormy and unsettled. During the first week the pressure W ~R geiieritlly low ; a,bout tlie 7th an ;ma of high pressure appears to have formed over mid-ocea,n, and this cou- tinned, with slight fluctuations, until t h e 13tI1, when i t was
replaced by a.rea,s of low pressure over the regiou east of 40O
W. The pressure over mid-ocean remained cornparatively low during the period from the 13th to a h u t the 19th, while areas
of high pisssure appeared off the American and European coasts. From the last-mentioned date until t h e ‘close of the month pressure was geuerally high over tlie region between the Banks and the European coasts, aud low near the masts of the Uuited States. The following amre descriptions of the low areas charted :
1,-This area of low pressure appeared between W. 30° and
25O, and uear N. 50°, on the l i t . Ou that date tlie A. s. “Aim-
nia,” W. H. P. Hains, commaudiug, in N. 50O 03f, W. 2 6 O 30f, at noon (Greenwich time), reported barometer 39.76 (i55.9), wind SSW., force 7, and ou the saine dity, about five liourslat.er,
i n N. 4 9 O 4Sf, W. Yo 5Of, the barometer had falleu to 39.46 (T48.3), and thc wind hiid increased to it whole g;de from ssw., shifting sudcleuly to \v. Captibiii Hiiins also reported : L L The gale h i d been blowiug steadily froin ssw. for 1 .d ’ au hour be- fore the shift; lightning flashed out from wuw., with thunder ~n t l torrents of rail1 ; the grile moderated towards miduight.” Vessels to the westwerd of the ‘iAura.nia,77 as far as W. No,
hail pressurc ranging from 29.6 (751.8) to 29.9 (769.4), with moderate gales or stroug breezes from n. aud nw. This area moved northeastward, and on the Sd it was appareutlg central
otf tlie northwestern coast of the British Isles, with pressure at the ceutre less than 39.6 (751.8). !&-This area of low pressure first became well-defined on the Yd, when tlie ceutre was near N. 51°, \V. 99O, but it had
apparently existed ~3 a depression on the preceding clay farther to the westward, and at a lower latitude, aa iudioated by the following reports : The s. 8. ‘‘Coventry,” W. C. Bacon, corn. mancling, in N. 44O 30’. W. 43O 58f, on the 2d, had barometer 29.98 ( 761.5), beiug a fall of about .4 iuch since the observation
of the lst, wind ne., force 7, shiftiiig to a heavy gale from se.
at miduight, and coutiniiiug until 9 a. in. of t h e 3d. The bark
L( Liviugstonu,” iu N. 45O O f , W. 37O 30f, ou the 3d, reported
Iienvy gales, from sw. to n., in which she lost and split soils, and sust’ained other damage. On the 3d the storm-centre was near N. 51°, W. 22O, with the barometer below 99.0 (736.6),and
atlended by gales of force 8 to 10 in all qnidrauts. On the 2%
Captain A. McRitchie, commanding the 8. R. ‘(Australia,” in
N. 49O 101, W. 29O 59/, at noou (Greenwich time), reported: “Moderite breeze and cloud?, wind variable; 9 p. m., wind iuoreasiug from sse., with min; 6 p. in., moderate to fresh breeze, with heavy rain-squalls, sea very much coufused ; 10 p. ni., strong breeze, from e. bys., with very heavyraiu; 11.30 p.
in., wind hading to sw., with wutiuuous heavy rain ; miduight, fresh gale; at H a. m. oii the 3d, 11;trd gale, with very high sea;
9.40 a. m., nioderitte gale, rein; 10 a. m., wind veeriirg to uw.
and blowiug with hurricane force, Rea high, ship laboring heavily, and shipping heavy seas; noon, 13t11, i n N. 49O 17f,
W. 44O SO’, barometer 99.13 (739.!1), wind nw., fome 10.” The
K. s. “ Lessing,” B. Voss, commaucling, in N. 49O 6’, W. 3 5 O 30f, n.t uoou (Greenwich time), 011 the 31, ha.d baroineter 29.68
(753.9), wind nw., force 9. During the afternoon of the 2d the wind sliiftetl from A. to IIW., tlirougli e., tlie barometer falling, between midaiglit of the !!ad a,id 4 a. m. of the 3d, from 29.23
(i43.4) to 39.14 (740.lj, accoiupimied by heavy nw. gale, with
raiu j at 6 a. in. on the 3d t.lie baroiuet,er begen to rise. Cap- tain W. Fitt, conimaiidieg the s. s. ‘( Brooklyn City,” furuishes
t,lie ti11 lowiirg report (the barometer, aneroid, is corrected) :
..................................................................
I Wind. I
I
I ............... _I
Barometer I 1 Lut. N. (aneroid).
I Direcliun. force. I
--I-;:&-. Mi/1. 9 I
’ I
Decarnber 3.
8. x. (Orsntlcichnurrri Lime.)
a 0 0 0 a .m ............................. a 00 a. m ...,.... .................... ese.
5 3 0 a .m .............................. 1.
g 3 0 a .m ............................ XI 00 L. m.... .......................... 0 30 p. m ”., 3 00p.m ............................. 5 ~o p .m .............................
.........................
......................... ,I O0 p. ”.,
..... _. . - ...... _-_ . - ...
Captain Fitt remarks as follows: LLAt-about 10 8. m. tlic
wind lulled for half an how; the sea was very much confused and leaped BEJ high as the funnel, one sea brea.king on board and smashing a life-boat to pieces. Shortly after, t h e wind
. oame from nw. and increased to hurricane force; the air wat
amass of spray and foam, and we could marcely see the length of the shi.p.” The s. 8. ‘iDenmark,” Geo. Cochrane,
commanding, in N. 49O 44’, W. Bl0 OW, had barometer 28.99 (736.3), a$ noon on the 34 windveering from 8. to SW., w., and nw., and blowing with the force of a whole gde. The steam.
erR ‘6 City of Richmond,” “ Australia,” (Qer.) ‘( Neckar,” and
(6 Rhaetia,” between N. 4Y0 50f and N. 51O 23f, and from W, 110 30f to W. 20° l O f , reported barometer ranging from 39.12 (739.6) to 29.45 (748.0), and all encountered galea of force 9
from s. to SW., w., amd nw. Captain Pearce, commanding the
bark.btExile,” in N. 48O 46?, W. 22O 301, at noon (Greenwich time) on the 3d, reported: ir 1 a. in., stroug sw. .by w. mind, barometer 29.63 (762.3); 4 a. m., heavy gale, barometer 39.42
(747.3); 8 a. m., terrific gale, with very high sea, barometer N.22 (742.2), wind hauling to westerly; 10 a. m., wind flew
into nw., blowing a hard gde, barometer rising; noon, hard gale, but moderating, barometer 29.32 (744.7).’: During the
3d thiR low area moved northeastward, and on the 4th it was
- gpparently central over the northern part of the British Isles,
where the,pressure waa less than 29.16 (740.4), and moderate to strong sw. and w. gales were prevailing in those islands
and over the adjacent seas. &-This is a contiuuation of the low areareferred to as nuni- ber i uuder “Areas of low pressure ” in this REVIEW. On the
2d the storm-centre was between Bermuda and the coast of the Cmlinaa, causing strong n. and nw. gales along the Atlant,ic coast, and equally strong e. and ne. gales from the Banks of Newfoundland to the New Englnnd coast. On the 3d the storm-
centre WM shown n e w N. 43O, W. b6O, where the pressure was less than 29.0 (736.6)? and strong gales prevailed in all quad- rants of the depression, extending over t h e ocean eastward to the forty-fifth meridian? and wmtwa.rd and southward to the coast of the United StAtes. At midnight of the 2d the R. s.
‘6 Wells City,” T. L. Wniss, comnianding, had a strong gale from se., sliif’ting to a. and w. during; the 3d; the lowest ba- rometer was 29.19 (741.4), at midnight of the %I, in N. #lo 6f,
W. 6 2 O 57‘. The s. s. t L York City,” E. W. Benn, cammanding, in about N. 43O, W. 5 8 O , at midnight of the Bd, had heavy
ae. gale, which continued until 4 a. m. of the 3d, when the
wind shifted to sw., and at 5 a. 111. to wnw., blowing a heavy gale. On the 3d the s. s. “Assyrian Monarch,” John Harrison, commanding, reported, at 4.16 a. m. (Greenwich time), wind freshening from se., barometer f’alling rapidly ; noon, in N. 45O
2of, W. 63O 161, barometer29.10 (739.1), wind Be., force 7; 3.30 p. m., wind shifted to sw. ; 6 p. m., lmrometer was at i t a lomest reading, 28.93 (7344, wind w., and blowing with hiirricaiie force; 7.30 p. m., wind 11aulitig to wnw., and moderating, ba- rometer rising rapidly. The s. R. bLCeltic,” B. Gleadell, com- mandiug, in N. 45O 45f, W. 51° 43f, at 2.30 p. m. ou the 3d,
had ba.rometer down to38.93 (734.6), strong gale from Re., reer- ing to wnw. The 8. s. bLRoxse,77 Jm. Dixon, cornmimcling, iu
N. 42O 551, W. 5 5 O 34f, had A hard gale from ese. to x., w., and
nw.; the lowest barometer was 29.01 1736.8), at 9.45 p. rn. (Greenwich time) on the 311. Strong gales from se., veering
to 8. and uw., were reported by vessels to the eastward as fa,r
as the forty-fitth niericlian, the barometer ranging from 29.3
(741.7) to 29.6 (751.8).
During the 3d the storm-centre moved rapidly northeastward,
, ‘On that date the s. 8. “State of Yennqlvaiiia,” A. Mann,
At 4 a. m. of the
I eter down to 29.13 (739.6), in N. 4 8 O 33f, W. Poo 02f, with 8
ii 2 ! strong gale from se., shifting to ssw. atid wsw. Strong w,
Long. W.
14 45 14 20
22 35
conimandiug, reported barometer 38.92 (7344, at 4 a. In., i r k
N. 500 20’, W. 39O 4Q’, wind se., backing to e., ne., n., and nw.,
:! $ and blowing with the force of a strong gale.
4th tile 8. 8. (4 Nevada,” J. Douglass, commanding, had b m m -
again to R., e., ii.nd.lle. Dllring the 6th this low area appa< eiitly passed eastward over the British Isles. 4.-This was u continuation of the low area described as number ii under of low pressure ” in this REVIEW. On the morning of the 4th i t wae over tAe Gulf of Saiut Law- rence with the barometer less than 29.0 (736.6) at the centre of
disturbance. During the day it moved rapidly enst-northeast- ward, attended by Rtrong gales from s. to sw. and w. over the
Banks and the ocean southward to the fortieth parallel. On the 5th the region of leaat pressure was shown near N. 500, W.
35O, where the barometer was down to 28.6 (726.4) The 8. s. :LCirca~~ia,y’ A. Campbell, commending, at noon of the 6th, in
N. 5Uo 50f, W. 37’ 31f, hail barometer 28.6S (728.7), wind me.,
force 9. The s. R. Rhynland,” J. C. Jamison, cornmasding, re- ported barometer 28.45 (7224, at 1 p. m. on the 6th, in N. &go 57f, W. 3 3 O 101, htirricsue from Re., and s., shifting to nw.
rtnd 11. .During this date all vessels between W. 40O and 27O,
aiid N. 4 8 O and bl0, reported pressure ranging from 28.7 (729.0) to B.0 (736.6); no readiugs exceeding the latt.er va.lue.
On the 6th the storm-centre was near N. 50°, W. 35O, the pressure having iucrmsed about .d iuch, the lowest barometric
reading reported being 28.85 (731.6). During thirs and t h e preceding day, strong gales from s. to nw. prera,iled over t h e Atlantic from the American to the European coasts. During the 6th this low area was apparently forced to tho southward.
By the 7th the winds over the region between N. 60° and 5F i.nd W. loo and 3Uo had shifted to e. and ne., and blew with the force of a strong gale, while the pressure began to increMe
wer the ocean north of 50° N. and over the British Isles. Ou ;he 8th the area of high pressures was well defined andof great extent, covering the ocean from the British Islea west- mrd to t.he fortieth meridian and from N. 55O to 45O. At the wine time the a.rea of low presenre was appnreeutly moving
southward between the AzoreN and the const of the Iberian Peninsula, and on t h e 8th and 9th the preusure was appa.rent,ly onvest iu the vicinity of Madeira; 5,-This was probably a continustion of the area of low ?ressure described as number iv under “Areas of low pres- sure ’’ iu this REVIEW. At midnight of the 7th the storm- lentre wa.8 iu Newfouudla.nd, and by the following morniiig it
lad passed northeastward to about N. 50°, W. 47O, the lowest :eported barometer on the 8th being 39.65 (753.1). During ts passage over the Giilf this low area caused verr strong
gales over the ocean south of Nova Scotia and on the Banks
‘gales, nhifting to s. ou the approach of low area 4, prevailed
over the O ~~I I west of the tortieth meridian, and the slight increase of pressure which had occurred after the pwage of
number 3 was checked. At the same time it modemtely steep barometric gradient existed to the eastward of 40° W., so that
strong 8. wiuds to gales occurred between W. 40° and 20°.
On the 5th this low area was off the Irish coast, the centre being near N. 50°, W. 14O, where the barometer read 29.0
(736.6), and uusettled weather and strong s. gales prevailed
over the British Isles and the Channel. The s. s. “Brooklyn City,” W. Fitt, comntanding, in N. 51° lo’, W. 12O 50f, at noon (Greenwich time) on the 5t.11, had bmmeter 29.01 (736.8), wind se., force 7. The 8. s. “Repiiblic,” P. J. Irving, commanding, in N. 51° 2W, W. 14O 14f, barometer 29.11 (739.4), wind ese., force 7. The s. s. Lake Superior,” Win. Stewmb, command- ing, in N. 51° 30f, W. 13O Of, reported barometer 29.08 (738.6), whole gale from e., veering to s. and sw., and then backing
DECEWEB, 1886. MONTHLY WBATHER REVIEW. 299
a f Newfoundlaud. By the 9th it had reached N. &do, W. 3 P
the pressure having increased to 29.85 (7584, and during tht day i t probably tilled in; ou the following day i-lti area..) high pressures occupied the ocean, extending apparently from the Banks of Newfonndlancl emtward to the Enropean coasts, &-This low mea appeared ou the 19th between N. 50° and
Mio and W. 30° and 40°. At midnight of t,he 11th the n. s
‘6 State of Nebraska,” A. a. Braes, commanding, had barom .et,er 29.4 (746.7), wind sw., strong gale, in N. BOo IS’, W,
40° O f , and at noon of the 12th the s. w. ‘L Ethiopia,” J. Wil.
son, commanding, reported barometer 29.37 (746.0), in N. 5aC .51f, W. 30° 03’, wind NW., force 7. This depressioti moved
northeastward with gradually dccreming pressure, am1 passed beyond the range of the observations duriug the 13th ; on thal date moderate sw. and w. gales prevailed over the region frow the British Isles westwa,rcl to the twentieth meridian, aud
from N. 50O northward to N. 5 5 O .
7,-This low areN appeared near N. 49O, W. 35O, ou the 13tJi j
during the 19th t h e N. 8. (‘ Fmnce,” A. D. HadIey, commaud.
ing, in N. 4 5 O 50f, W. 35O 51f, had barometer 30.0 (763.0), falling steadily, with stroug ssw. breeze. On the 13th the s ,
8. 6‘ Baltic,” G. Burton, comtrianding, in N. 48O 51f, W. 3 7 O 37f1
had barometer 29.56 (750.8), wind w. by s., h r c e 4, having shifted from sw.; on the same date tlie s. N. Persiau Mon. arch,” J. Watson, commaiiding, in N. duo 5Sf, W. 3 3 O lSf! had barometer 39.57 (761.1), wind ne., force 5, and the R. s.
*6 France,” in N. #io 39/, W. 30° 22f, barometer 29.64 (752.8),
wind 8. by w., force 8. The reports for the 14th and 15th
showed the existence of a large, appareutly elongated, iirea 01
low pressure Over the ocean between W. 35O :bud 18O, a.ud stretching from about N. Poo northemtwarcl, t.0 ?J.*55O ; within this area the pressure ra,uged from 29.3 (744.3 I to 39.7 (754.4), and moderate to fresh gales from se., e., and 11. were reported.
By the 15th the low area had appareutly exteuded to the Azores, while high pressures occupied t h e Bay of Biscay and
southwestern Europe. &-This was a continuation of the storm tleacribetl a4 num. ber vi under “Areas of low pressure” iu this BEVIEW. On the morning of the 15th the centre was orer the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, with pressure about 29.3 (744.3), and attended by moderate to strong gales from 8. to sw. and w. over the Banks and southward to Poo N. On the 16th tho centre of the low
a m was near N. 5 3 O , W. 40°, where the pressure was L9.36
(745.5), the barometric resdings increasing to 39.65 (753.11 near the forty-sixth parallel. To the emtward of the storm. ceutre t.he winds were from 8. to sw., blowing with the force ol
8 moderate gale, and to the southward and westward they were from nw. and w., force 5 to 7. On the 17th the lowest, readjug8 were shown near N. 52O and between W. 30° and 3 5 O , where they ranged from 29.53 (750.0) to 29.7 (7544, while the witid
did not, generally, exceed the force of a strong breeze. On the
18th the storm-centre, att.ended by moderate to strong breezes only, wm shown near N. 63O, W. 36O, the lowest reported press- ures h i n g 39.4 (746.7) and L4.43 (747.5), with strongs. aud Ne. winds to the eastward and northward of the above-meutioned position. This low area continued its easterly movement dur- ing the 19th, and by the following day it had apparently entered Ireland RS a slight depression, with lowest barometer about
29.7 (754.4). 9,-This area appears to hare developed over the oceaii to the southeast of Nova Scotia, during the 19th when the storm
described as number vii under “Arena of low pressure” in fhis REVIEW, was moving northeastward over New Euglautl and the Cmadiau Maritime Proviaoea. On the 18th an area
of high pressure occupied t h e Gulf of Saint Lawrence, New- foundland, and the Bauks, and apparent,ly extended south- ward beyond the fortieth parallel. On the 19th the s. s.
~r ~u g o ,’ y A. de Mugica8 commanding, in N. 41° 53f, W. 5 8 O
Psf, at noon (Greenwich time),reprted barometer 29.68 (‘i63.9), being a fall of about .55 inch since the observation of the 18th, wind sse., force 7, cloudy and rainy; at 1.30 p. m. the wind was sw., and at 4 1). m. i t was blowing o fresh gale fmm
wnw., bmmeter re.ading 20.69 (251.6); at 5 p. m., wind nnw., strong breeze, and at 11 p. m. the wind again Nhifted to m.,
in a fresh breeze. The 8. N. (6 Assyriau Monarch,” John Har- rison, tmmmanding, i t i N. 41O 39, W. 59O 45’, at noon (areen-
wicli h i e ) oii the 19th, had barometer 29.73 (764.9),, being a
b l l of about .58 inch, wintl nnw., force 8. The 8. s. “Per- siaii Monarch,” J. Watson, cornmitoding, passed in close prox- imity to the Ntorm-ceutre on the 19th; that vessel, in N. 4 4 O
21f, W. 5 5 O O l f , at 7.10 p. m. (Greeuwich time), had barometer down to 39.46 (74X.7), the wind blowing a whole gale from se., and increasing t.0 hurricane force. The wind shifted to AW.
i i t h liea,vy rain, tlieu to w., falling calm, ;and then coming ont from t i . and nne. Dnring the 30th the disturbance apparently passed nortlieawt~wit~rd, and probably united with the low area traced as number 10, wliicli, on the !Hat, was moringorer Nea- foundland. At uooii of the 20th the 8. N. 6LR~mad,” D. Wil- liams, commibndiug, in N. 4 6 O 57f, W. 4 8 O bof, l i d barometer 59.88 (758.9), wind sw. by w., force 4.
1O.-Tlii.u w‘tbn ;I contiuuation of the low area dearibed 88.
numbor vii under LL Areas of low 1)1~3ssnre~~ in Ohia .REVIEW. Dnriug the 19th imd 2Otli it passed northeastward over the Maritime Provinces and the Giilf of Saint Lawrence as 8
severc storm, with pressure at the centre about B.3 (741.7), and attended by moderate to strong gales from sw. to nw. at
sea and aloiig the coist of the United States. On the 2lst i t was apparently central over Newfouiidlimd, whence it passed northeastward, causing moderate to strong gales from 8. to sw. over the ocean near the fiftieth parallel, with bitrometer rang-
ing from 29.5 (749.3) to 39.7 (754.4). On the Sf!d the reports indicilted the preseiice of a depresnion to the southeastward of Nova Scotia, and strong gales from s. to IIW. were reported, but at the preseiit writing the reports are insufficient to deter- niine it8 course. During t h e passage of the low area described as number ix under b‘Aress of low pressure” in this REVIEW, very strong gales. prevailed over the western part of the oman from the
35th to the :iOtli, the n. and uw. gales over the ocean between. the coast of the United States and Bermuda being especially severe, and extending its far Rout11 as the West Indies.
OCEAN ICE.
The positions of the icebergs reported during December, 1885,
are shown on chart i by shaded spots. They were observed by the following vessels :
December lSth.-S. 8. L‘Devonitt,7y in N. 47O 95f, W. 46O 01,
passed a large iceberg. 19th.-S. 5. “Lake Hurou,”in .N. 4i0 15’, W. Go 40,’ passed
a large iceberg. 24th.-S. 5. L 6 Cimiwsiit,” in N. 4 7 O 46f, W. 4 5 O 33f, passed
811 iceberg. 30th.43. 5. LL Carthageuian” obtierved two icebergs off the entrance to Saint John’s Harbor, Newfoundlaud. The 6. 8.
‘4 Portia 9’ also psssed neverd icebergs on the Newfoundland
coast.
For December of the three preceding years no icebergs have been reported by observers of t h i s ofice.
SIGNAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
Sigual Service agencies have beenestablished in the Maritime Excliaiige buildings at New Pork Oity aud Philadelphia, and in the Custom-House, Bostou, where the necessary blanks and other information will be furnished to ship-masters.
Iu pursuance of the arraugements made with the Meteorolo- gical Office of London, England, there were cabled to that affice from New Pork during December, 1885, twelve reporta miiceruing storms encountered by vessels in the Atlilutic west af the forty-fifth meridian ; one message was sent h m Boston.
TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR.
[.Xxpreaaed b degrece, FahTenheit.]
The distribution of meau temperature over the United states and Canada for December, 1886, is exhibited on ohart ii hy the dotted isothermal lines; and in the tables of miactella-