New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-19
4 H1RD WLNTER " EUROPE.


II has been obvious for several weeks tass
Europe was experiencing more unusual winter
weather than we Americans were. In the United
States indeed over most of the country from
the Alleghanies to the Rockies, the season has
been midcr than the average, though not 50
phenomenal in this respect was that OF
year ago while here in the East, only In
limited region, in NewEngland and the Eastern
British Provinces, has the temperature Dcen Ihuch
below the normal or the snow at all excessive
Across the Atlantic, however, the severity ot inc
cold and the blockades from snow have been hn-
paracled in many years; and the winter mas al
ready proved historic in lis abnormal Development
This ecccntricity is the more remarkable, too, be-
cause last year. in Europe as in the United
States. exceptionally mild weather prevailed.
The explanation Of This strange meteorological
allction or series OF anlicons is to he found, no
doubt largely in the unusual tracks winch the
storms Of the last few weeks have pursued
kcoppcns, Van Bcbbcr's and Grelys charts show
that the great majority Of moving barometrlc
deplessons which influence European weather
approach the British Isles from the North Atlantic,
and move northcastward, with their centres clear
Of the west coast of Ireland \ smaller proper
tion enter the English Channel and continue
straight eastward into North Germany. 1t was
this route. 10y the bye, that Southern England
had trosts. November -. unparalleled in sixty
wears: and people who remember the elimination
of our own cold wave the morning after Thanks
giving Day will be interested in the coincidence
Several other storms have recently followed this
track \ recognized but still less travelled path
leads down from the Norman coasts TO Northern
Italy. where it subdiyidcs into three branches,
running respectively up through Austria and
Russia across the Balkan peninsula and the
EuNinc and down the Adratc into the Eastern
Mediterranean. This route, with its ramltca-
tions. seems to have been patronized more fire.
auently than usual this winter; although two
or three of the storms reported in the last few
weeks have apparently developed in the western
Mediterranean. or have entered that sea from the
Atlantic 10y crossing Spain. thence working their
way eastward along one Of the lines Just de-
scrlbcd.
The vital importance Of this matter of storm
tracks is appreciated when one remembers that
air pours inward. for hundreds if not thousands of
miles into Il cyclone centre. with warm winds on
the ca>tcry and southcrly sides, and cold ones
ON the norherv and westerly. The former would
prevail in Southern Europe with storms passing
over the lIcbridcs and Norway: while the latter
would predominant when storm moved over the
Mediterranean. as a rather famous one did. tor
instance. March 9-lO, 1853. The cold wave
which followed lowered the mercury al Biarin
10 3 degrees Ccntgradc, on the Pic du Midi in
the Pyrcnccs t. ~, and on the SacntlS lin the
Alps to - tie latter two records being the
lowest ever made at those stations up 10 that
time But as Alters. Tuns and the Red sea
have been thus visited this winter, II is probable
that the last TWO or three storms have made their
eastward progress in still lower ATTITUDES than even
that historic blizzard
The propensity of storms to follow approx
mately the same route. though II be an unusual
one for "a period of weeks or even months at
time serves to perpcjuatc the abnormal traits of
given season in any locality in the temperate
zones But in view of the unwOntcd cmbarraSs-
mcnts and suffering which have lately fallen To
the lot 81 Europe, in consequence of this terrible
weather, one cannot but hope for such a readlust
ncnt of meteorological conditions rs will send the
cyclones and their freezing Scquels back to their
customary Northern highways.