Meteorological Notes

Abstract

STORMS AND FLOODS OF THE PAST SIX WEEKS.—An examination of the Daily Weather Maps published in different countries of Europe for this period is very instructive. The most common course taken by the winter storms of north-western Europe is an easterly or north-easterly one, and the tracks of their centres lie somewhere between Farö and Iceland. Hence the winter climate of the British Isles is characterised by southwesterly winds, and the relatively high temperature and humidity which they bring with them from the Atlantic. This state of things is occasionally varied by the centre of the storm passing in its easterly course across England, along the Channel, or over a track even still further south, resulting in easterly and northerly winds at places situated to the north of the centre track, with the probable accompaniments of sleet, snow, or hail, low temperatures, chill drizzling rains, and heavy seas. Since, however, the storm-centres usually soon pass on to eastward, the easterly winds accompanying them are generally not of long continuance. But during these past six weeks, notably from December 1 to 7, 16 to 24, and 31 to January 7, the cyclonic centres have had their course in the south, or to the south, of the British Islands, and consequently easterly and northerly winds have prevailed, particularly in the north of Great Britain. The cyclonic centres, instead of advancing, as ordinarily happens, to eastward, oscillated backwards and forwards—to eastward and then to westward, to north-westward, and then to south-eastward—being thus continually for days together in the south of the British Islands, and hence the persistency of the easterly winds for several days in succession in the north. Finally, since steep gradients prevailed frequently and for considerable periods from North Britain to Norway, the easterly winds acquired a violence, as well as a persistency, almost unprecedented, strewing the coasts with wrecks, and raising high tempestuous seas, which, particularly when conjoined with the high tides in the beginning of January, damaged harbours and other property to an extent fortunately of rare occurrence in these islands. As frequently happens, gradients were also steep and winds violent over the Channel and the south of England. The snow and rainfalls were also excessive, and blocking up of railways and river floodings, with the inconveniences and disasters attending them, were experienced in all parts except the north-west of Great Britain. At many places the rainfall of December was the heaviest ever recorded. The intimate bearing of the weather of Scandinavia and Lapland on that of Great Britain, and its great scientific importance in forecasting British weather—a point we have on various occasions insisted on in this journal— were several times conspicuously illustrated during the singular weather of these six weeks.