New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
WARNINGS OF CYCLONES.

To any one who is familiar with the origin
and character Of West India hurricanes 1t is
obvious that the Windward and the Leeward
Isles are much more exposed to peril. or at least
have much less chance of receiving timely
warning than other islands in that quarter OF
the globe II is believed that these disturbances
are largely due TO the hot vapor which abounds
In low ATTITUDES in the western Atlantic.
gentle drift brings over toward this continent
a quantity of surface water which is hotter
than any elsewhere In the whole ocean. Its
temperature at this time Of year is usually 30
degrees or more. Here in fact. Is the birth
place Of the Gulf Stream. While a few Of
these tropical disturbances develop inside the
Caribbean most Of them are organized further
eastward: and the normal route Is to the west
ward al first Thus the Leeward and Wind
ward Isles together constitute the frontier Of
the West Indian system. There is no outpost
beyond from which signals can be sent With
no more ntimation than a rapid fall In the
barometer for two or three hours. storm
smites several islands almost at the same in
slant. and destroys life and property with
terrible heartlessness. The region in which
practically all Of these storms originate is be-
tween ten and fifteen degrees away from the
their way trife further northward before
reaching human habitations: but as the chain
which begins with Trinidad and ends with the
VIRGIN Isles extends from the tenth TO the
eighteenth parallel Of latitude. the series con-
stitutes an ideal picket line. not only for me
other islands but also for the continent.
One circumstance that aids the forecaster
greatly. after the existence of West India
a., o1,o tori-ti IL
bolic curve which the storm track describes.
There are wide departures in practice from the
Theoretical standard. But II Is true In most
cases that the path is generally westward mt
first and that II eventually turns around TO the
northeast. IT IS hard to foretell how FAR TO
the westward a cyclone will move before THIS
change of course will begin. II is also next
10 impossible 10 say whether the bend Will he
sharp or an open one II may be expected, how
ever. that the recurvature will occur In about
latitude % or 20. And If the centre of the
disturbance has once begun 70 move in north
westerly direction before approaching the PEN
lnsula Of Florida II rarely enters the Gulf or
Mexico but usually swings around and follows
the coast up to Hatteras Padre Ninez a
Havana expcrt after studying the tracks OF
large number Of West India cyclones. concluded
that one could infer the latitude In which the
turn would occur from the season. III the
storm developed early. as was the case ms
year. II would recurve AT different distance
from the equator than II IL came later. But
other meteorologsts have not yet accepted TINS
theory II has too many exceptions to prove
substantial reliance. II Is safe to say. how
ever. that no storm OF this class will ever 90
far inland Not only has II n marine origin but
II also lives only on the ocean. II may impnge
on the coast OF the continent; hut n the centre
pushes well inland, the storm dies out rapidly.
The supply Of hot vapor on which II thrives
IS 10 he found only at sea.
The slow progress Of these storms, n least
until after they emerge from the tropics, Is
favorable 10 conjecture ms to their probable
maths II Is not uncommon for the advance
to he limited 10 Ave or ten miles an hour The
particular hurricane which visited Porto Rico
last week seems To have travelled trihe faster
From, Dominica. where Il was on Monday night,
" NewProvidence. which had limitations OF
~. approach on Friday. the distance is about
200 miles: and the destroyer spent about io
hours In covering the interval.
When ms often happens. cyclone Is NOT more
than 100 or 40 miles wide II Is possible to lose
track ~ Il temporarily IN the Caribbean Sea the
Gulf OF Mexico or up among the Bahamas. where
there are no telegraph stations. and perhaps no
observers But an alarm once having peen
given 10 places that are accessible and In some
degree Of peril. close watch Of wind velocities
and directions and Of harometric readings VIII be
instituted. and all possible preparation be made
for the unwelcome visitors arrival.