THE EUROPEAN STORM OP DECEMBER 21-28, 1836. 



21 



far eastward as the Black Sea ; but in Italy the winds are generally inclined to the 

 southwest. We see the same tendency of the winds to crowd inward towards the 

 area of least pressure, and also to circulate around the centre of this area ; and 

 these winds, especially over Great Britain, were generally strong and violent. 



On the 27th, between the parallels of 49 and 55 degrees, east and northeast 

 winds still prevail as far east as to Central Kussia ; but the winds are less violent 

 than yesterday. There is still a tendency to circulate around a central point ; but 

 this centre appears to be somewhat east of Mont Blanc. In Italy the prevalent 

 winds are from the west and southwest ; while in Austria they are from the south. 



On the 28th, between the parallels of 46 and 55 degrees, north and northeast 

 winds prevail as far east as Russia, and there is still a marked tendency of the 

 winds inward towards the point of barometric minimum, which point is now situated 

 over Northern Italy. 



Origin of the Storm. 



This storm appears to have originated in AVestern Europe. On the 21st, through- 

 out the whole of Europe, the winds everywhere blew nearly in their normal direction. 

 It should be noticed, however, that in Iceland the barometer stood 0.69 inch above 

 its mean height. On the 22d the barometer at Iceland stood 1.13 inch above its 

 mean height; and along the northwest border of Euroi)e the barometer was every- 

 where unusually high. This unusual pressure of the atmosphere caused the air to 

 flow towards places where the pressure was less ; that is, towards Central and 

 Southern Europe. Here was the origin of the northerly wind, which was expe- 

 rienced in Norway and Germany on the 22d. This northerly wind was cold, and 

 under its influence the thermometer sunk below its mean height. This cold north- 

 erly wind interfered with the progress of the westerly wind which prevailed over 

 Great Britain, so that the west wind was forced upward and compelled to flow^ over 

 the north wind. By being thus elevated, it was cooled and a portion of its vapor 

 condensed; and this was probably the origin of the rain which fell in England and 

 Scotland on the 22d. 



On the 2;3d the barometer in Iceland stood 1.33 inch above its mean height, and 

 the northerly current has now displaced the westerly one throughout the whole of 

 Western Europe, viz., in Great Britain, Ireland, France, etc. The westerly wind 

 which prevailed over Great Britain on the 22d is now lifted above the earth's sur- 

 face, and exists simply as an upper current. Its vapor is condensed by the cold of 

 elevation, and thus originated the rain which prevailed over France on the 23d. 



On the 24th the barometer in Iceland still continued more than an inch above 

 its mean height, and this dense atmospheric wave has made sensible progress east- 

 ward, so that now as far east as Sweden the barometer is much above its mean 

 height. The pressure of the air towards Central and Southern Europe now becomes 

 stronger than before, and the westerly wind from the Atlantic is everywhere lifted 

 above" the earth's surface, and prevails as an upper current, while its vapor is con- 

 densed by the cold of elevation: This northerly current brings with it a considerable 

 reduction of temperature, and north of the parallel of 46° the moisture which is 



