The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26
HURRICANE SEASON
NOW AT HEIGHT

The season during which the eastern
coast of the United States is liable to
visitation from the class of severe
tropical storms known as West Indian
hurricanes is now at It's height. The
period of their greatest frequency ex-
tends roughly from the beginning of
July until the middle of November
During the last 30 years about IS per
cent of these storms have occurred
during the months of August, Septem-
Der and October-September showing a
slightly greater number than any oil
the others. says the Washington Star
These hurricanes have their origin
| in the tropical zone They first move
to the westward or northwestward in
| the westward equatorial drift of the
atmosphere, and after entering the
eastward drift of middle latitudes take
a course to the northeastward. About
20 per cent originate in the area en-
| Draclng roughly the Caribbean sea- thu,
Cult of Mexico and the West Indies.
The extent of their westerly course Is
subject to wide limitations, some tray-
| ersing the Gulf of Mexico into Texas
before recurving to the northward AMI
eastward, while others fail entil ely to
reach the coast of the United States
The average point of recurve, however
Is over the lower portion of the Florida
! peninsula
The average daily movement of West
| indian hurricanes is about 300 miles.
Their earlier progress is much slower
than that OF storms In the middle lati-
tudes, but following the recrrve an
advance movement approximating that
of the eastward drift at midfle lati-
tudes is attained. On the average they
travel about five days before altering
| their course to the northea stWard
about two days being the average Pc
riod occupied in the recurve. after
which they may continue for many
days, some having crossed the Atlantic
ocean and passed into Europe.
hurricanes are generally not more
than 900 to 400 miles in diameter.
moderate decrease In pressure is OBJ
served to within 40 or so miles of the
center. after which a rapid fell takes
place, which in exceptional cases
reaches to minimum pressure of %
inches. or even less. This area OF steep
pressure gradient Is characterized by
excessively heavy rainfall and by de-
structive winds which occasionally ex-
coed velocity of 100 miles an bour
The weather bureau keeps a sharp
lokout on weather conditions In West
Indian waters during the hurricane
season and follows closely the de-
Velopment and progress of hurricane
as soon as 1t has been sighted Hur-
!
flags with black centers. are displayed
In advance at seaports, and daily or
semi-daily bulletins regarding the 10
cation and general character Of the
storm are given the widest possible
distribution by means of land teIe.
graph. by cable. and, probably, the
most important of all, by radiozrams
In this way precautionary measures
are taken along the probable route of
the storm, and as a result there has
been great decrease in wrecks in re-
cent years, Notwithstanding Che fact
that shipping has greatly increased
Very recently efforts have been d.
rected by the weather bureau to per-
feeting system of radioerams, or
wireless messages, by means of which
reports of wind. weather and pressure
conditions are being received from
number OF vessels plying in the gulf
and Caribbean waters. and also from
about d dozen land stations that are
maintained by the weather bureau IN
the West Indies. The work thus being
done is of greater Importance than ever
before in view of the increase in ocean
traffic that is destined to follow the
opening Of the Panama canal in the
near future.