Year: 1877

AuSIiy OSCuPyiAS hASh PAsSS'


Two Great Storms.


During the past week we made frequent


reference to the progress Of two storm CEN


tres which were following courses that con-


verged toward the Middle Atlantic States.


The first in importance of these disturb


ances is that which has passed over the


Gulf of Mexico and through the Eastern


Gulf States toward the Atlantic coast. The


course of this storm has made it dangerous


to navigation from the time of its de-


velopment in the equatorial zone east
of the Windward Islands. It has per-


formed great curve from the vicinity
of the island Of Jamaica to the northern
part of Florida, passing, as we stated yes
terday, to the westward of the island Of
Cuba. At the same time another storm
centre was moving in southeasterly direc-
ton from Montana over the Missouri and
Upper Mississippi valleys toward the lake
region, and the area of the attendant
depression extended southwark into the
Lower Ohio Valley. When the Gulf
storm or cyclone had reached the coasts
of Alabama and Florida the north
ern storm had arrived in the Upper
Mississippi and Ohio valleys, and the
intervening band of high pressure became
rapidly reduced in width, until it was
finally absorbed by both storms. Then the
two areas of low pressure resolved them
selves into an elongated barometric trough,
which yesterday morning extended from the
region north of the upper lakes to the South
Atlantic coast. The axis of this trough,
which varied in width, assumed an undulat-
ing alignment with its most easterly point
at the southern extremity. The centre Of its
length bent eastward toward the st. Lawrence
Valley, as if obeying pressure in that
direction. It was at this section that the
trough contracted in width, leaving north
and south enlargements, within which the
original storms maintained their organiza-
tion, although the whole formed one
great depression. Toward evening the
contraction or neck Of the depression
moved eastwardly toward Boston, while
the storm centres proper passed re-
spectively through Canada and over
Cape Hatteras. Behind the depression
there has advanced an area, or, more prop
erly. great undulation Of high pressure,
which caused the northwesterly and north
erly winds to blow fercely over the lakes
and through the Mississippi Valley to Texas.
A sharp ''norther" occurred in Eastern
Texas yesterday. Violent rains prevailed
from the upper lakes to the whole Atlantic
coast, the area of precipitation forming
triangle whose apex was in Lake Superior.
This area has since moved eastward over
the lakes. The temperature within the area
Of the depression fell very decidedly, but the
most notable change occurred in the West,
and within the area Of high pressure re-
ferred to. The storms have fairly broken
the weather, and we may look forward to
frequent disturbances now. In New York
and it's vicinity the storm has been partic-
ularly severe. Floods Of rain water swept
the dirty streets until they looked as if o
new and capable Commissioner of Police
had taken charge Of the Street Cleaning
Indeed. the deluge was quite
a godsend to the metropolis, for it furnished
q water supply that will help to fill up the
almost empty reservoirs in the Croton
Valley. Considerable damage was done
through Maryland and Pennsylvania by the
storm, and the Hudson River Valley was
swept by o furious tempest of wind and
rain. The washout on the Hudson River
Railroad at Riverdale caused q serious in
terruption to the traffic. The accident to
the train fortunately was not attended
by loss of life or any serious in
juries to either the passengers or
crew. Heavy northwesterly and northerly
gales may be expected during the next few
days. The weather in New York to-day will
be cloudy and cool, with rain, followed by
decreasing cloudiness and high winds.