20 THE EUROPEAN STORM OF DECEMBER 21-28, 1836. 



that on tlie 21st the wind blew from the west or southwest throughout nearly every 

 part of Europe, except near its southern border. In Italy, and even as far north 

 as Munich, the prevalent direction was from the northeast, and in Southern France 

 it Avas from the northwest. These winds throughout the whole of Europe coincide 

 remarkably with the average direction of the winds for the month of December. 

 We find, then, on the 21st no considerable disturbing force operating upon the 

 wind in any part of Europe. There was a storm, indeed, prevailing in Russia ; but 

 the amount of vapor precipitated appears to have been small, unless near the 

 extreme northeastern border of Europe. 



On the 22d, over Great Britain, the prevalent winds are from the west; but over 

 most of France, Germany, and the northeiii part of Russia, the prevalent wind is 

 from the nortliAvest. In Southern Russia the winds are from some southerly quar- 

 ter. Here we see the first operation of a great disturbing force, which on the next 

 day became more decided, viz., a cold current pressing down from the north over 

 Sweden and Germany. The storm in Russia is now becoming more decided, and 

 its influence upon the direction of the winds is seen in the south of Russia. 



On the 2od, over the whole of Western Europe, and also in Northern Russia, the 

 prevalent winds are from the north ; in South Germany they are from the west or 

 southwest ; while in Italy the directions are very various. Here we see the further 

 progress of the cold current from the north, sweeping over the whole of Western 

 Europe, from Iceland and the Orkneys over Great Britain, France, and Spain, 

 joining probably the trade-winds, and thus continuing on to the equator. In the 

 neighborhood of the Russian storm, the winds deviate more from their mean direc- 

 tion, and exhibit a tendency inward towards the area of least pressure. 



On the 24th, throughout all the northwest quarter of Europe, as well as through- 

 out most of Germany, the prevalent direction of the wind was from the northeast ; 

 in the southern part of France it was from the northwest ; and in Italy it was from 

 the south. Here we see a decided tendency in the winds of Western Europe to 

 circulate around a centre, and also to crowd inwards towards that centre. This 

 centre was near Mont Blanc, which was also near the point of least barometric 

 pressure. Nearly all these winds in Western Europe were strong winds, and in 

 many places their force amounted to a gale. In Eastern Europe there is also some 

 indication of a tendency to circulate around the point of least pressure in Russia ; 

 but on account of the small number of observations, this remark would not be 

 entitled to much consideration, Avere it not for its close analogy with the pheno- 

 mena of Western Europe. 



On the 25th, throughout a circle of about 750 miles radius, there is the same 

 tendency to circulate around a centre near Mont Blanc, with a more decided 

 crowding inward of the winds towards the area of least pressure ; and in Eastern 

 Europe there is an apparent tendency to circulate around the point of barometric 

 minimum in Russia ; but on account of the small number of the observations this 

 tendency is very imperfectly exhibited. In Western Europe the winds were almost 

 everywhere strong winds, amounting in many places to a severe gale. 



On the 26th the direction of the winds in Western Europe was nearly the same 

 as on the 25th, and near the parallel of 50 degrees easterly winds now prevail as 



