Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-01-18
OUR REMARKABLE WEATHER

The weather is everybody's topic at
all times, and always debatable ques-
ton consequently the extraordinary
weather of the past two months has
called out all sorts of remarks, from all
sorts of people, wise and otherwise.
Within the past week we have seen in
full bloom in gardens in this county,
snow-drops, crocuses, pansies, and in
the fields wild violets, myrtles, and
other flowers that usually blossom in
April. Trailing arbutus is found in
the piney woods, and honeysuckles and
vines are putting forth leaves, while
many other plants are shooting up out
of the ground. The meadows and
lawns are as green as we generally find
them in April. Farmers have been
busy blowing their fields, and in ditch
ing and other farm work usually
done in the Spring and Fall. The
"oldest inhabitant" is at fault in ac
counting for this state of things, and
all agree that they have never known
such mild weather for so long a time
at this season of the year in this lati-
tude, when the ponds and streams
should be frozen over, the icemen gath
ering their harvest, the boys and girls
skating and coasting, and sleigh-bells
jingling in the air
The cause of this mild weather has
been attributed to an alleged change of
course in the Gulf Stream, which it has
been declared has moved several miles
inshore than usual, and thus modified
the meteorological conditions Of the
eastern shores of the continent. But
this theory will hardly answer, because
the warm temperatures felt on the At
lantic seaboard extend generally over
the country, and are even higher in
the Mississippi Valley than east of the
Then again, it is au-
thoritatively declared, that the Gulf
Stream has never been known to
change its course except by the action
of a long series of winds in an eastward
or westward direction. As the pre-
vailing winds for several months past
have been from the southwest their
only effect upon the Gulf Stream has
been so slightly accelerate its action
and naturally to drive it further away |
from our coast, which experienced |
navigators declare is the actual fact.
The most plausible theory is that
put forth by General Greeley, of the
Signal Service Bureau He says that
n the high northern ATTITUDES the
Weather has been unusually severe and
tormy this Winter, and that the pas
age of these storms to the northeast
las caused a steady current of air from
he south and southwest across the
continent toward the disturbed areas
n British America. The December
Winds usually blow from the north and
northwest, and are much colder, of
course, than currents from lower lati-
udes. The general circulation being
rom parts of the country least affected
~ rainfall, the winds were not only
warm but dry, and all conditions
favorable for mild weather south of
he Canadian border, and east Of the
outhern ranges of the Rocky Noun
aims. There has been much damp
nd muddy weather, but little heavy
ain, in fact much less than usual in
he winter season. For the general
lealth and comfort of all it is to be
loped that the great and unusual
forms in the north will soon cease,
nd that we shall thereby be favored
With one usual bracing winter weather
or the remainder of the season-Ad-
ance.