The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-03
REVIEW OF MARCH.

REVIEW OF MARCH.
Tho Month WINS Hlnrk cd by some Fig.
scepti0nnlIy Bad Wcntl.er. s$
The month was marked by some ex
eeptionally aevere weather over the
Nofth Atlantic. This was especially the
case IN the higher attitudes where the
! gales followed each other so RAPIDLY
| mat the bad weather was almost con.
tlnuous. The force OF wind was fire.
9uenty reported 8 eleven, while on q
NV gays q fun hurricane was recorded
$40, ~ heLce squalls were accompanied by
SHOW. nail and rain, and the seas were
reported Of unusual height. Several
steamers were disabled during tho had
weather; others were unable 10 proceed
against the fury Of the wind and sea. A
new nevat ca pasnrs reported that they had
of unusually severe weather. -
Gaics from southwest and wesf Dre
vailed during the last week Of Febr,iarv
over the area between the British Isles
anu the Grand Banks. The centres of
enc storms were too far north to be de-
ever, passed Rockall, February 2S. It
was attended with violent gales. force
!O-ll on that day and on March I.
Ihese gales were followed on the cd by
sales CT hurricane violence, due to a
S Storm area whose centre at noon. G. NJ.
\
70 deg. west. The barometric pressure
near the storm centre at the time wa {
ABOUT $3.50 inches, while an anti-cyclone.
5O.S0 inches. covered the southern mart
. OF the Grand Banks. On the I'd and 81
I'm; Inc storm area extended from the Brit
ish Isles 70 DO deg. west. and from the
aoth parallel north. On the 4th several
vessels reported the winds as Sill blow.
ing with hurricane force. but the west
ern edge of the storm area was about 90
deg. west.
Gales were reported almost daily from
the alh 70 the 18th along the transatlan-
Tic routes. They were principally from
west and southwest as the centres of
inc areas were north Of the limits Of OBJ
serVation. and were fresh to strong in
force. 40
An area Of low pressure moved ga
from Newfoundland on the 18th, in
creased IN energy and caused strong to
whole gales on the 18th and 18th. As
me area approached the British Isles on
me l4th It decreased in energy and the
gales rapidly lost force.
on the 18th, 18th and 18th gales Of
Wlnd We're reported from 20 deg. west
almost 10 the New England coast. The
southwest and west and later from west
and northwest. They were very severe
great many vessels reporting force CT
eleven, while some recorded the winds
rs of hurricane force. These gales
were caused by an extensive area of low
pressure spreading over Newfoundland
ana the ocean to the eastward IT moved,
slowly and was followed by an area OF
hieh pressure Oh the 18th The pressure
near the centre Of the storm OH The 10th
ana 18th was about 2SG0 inches.
~ storm area was central near &c deg
north. 80 deg. west, March 10. Gales of
FORGE eleven were reported on the 18th
ana 10Th. with violent squalls Of rain
and hail. Lowest barometer 2S.GO
Inches.
l'he barometric pressure in the vicinity
or the Azores from February is to March
il was constantly above the normal,
varying from 5000 to 1910 inches With
an average ut the Azores of about 30. As
ncheS. The weather for the same period
Tor that region and the ocean to the
south and southwest was generally fine.
IN the vicinity of the West Indies and
near the American coast good wea ther
was reported eScent on n few days when
occasional ga .es were reported between
Bermuda and the coast to the north
west.
Fog was reported over small area
near the tail or the Banks on a few
days; also between Georges Shoal and
The Chesapeake Cnpes on the 23d and
oath.
Icebergs and field ice were frequently
sighted on the Banks between March 90
and March p --latest reports.) The bergs
were mostly between As deg. west and
81 deg. west and AZ deg north and "a
deg. north.