126 NORTH ATLANTIC WINDS AND WEATHER. 



(46.) We here give the Monthly Forecasts appearing on the United 

 States Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean, and afterwards proceed 

 to describe the Wind Regions enumerated in the opening paragraph (42) 

 of this Section, commencing with the Trade Wind. 



January. — Stormy weather will prevail over the Northern part of the 

 North Atlantic and along the American coast North of Hatteras. Strong 

 Westerly and North- Westerly gales may be expected every five or six days 

 along the transatlantic steamship routes, accompanied by heavy snow- 

 squalls and followed by clear and very cold weather. In the Gulf of 

 Mexico severe Northers will occur as often as once in ten days, and 

 Northerly gales may be encountered occasionally in the Caribbean Sea. 

 The N.E. Trades will reach their extreme Southern limit. Fog will be 

 encountered more frequently than during December on the Grand Banks 

 and off the coast to the Westward, and Ice may reach South of the latitude 

 of Cape Race, especially toward the end of the month. 



February. — Stormy weather is likely to prevail off the American coast 

 and over the Atlantic generally North of the 35th parallel, where fresh to 

 strong gales, principally from the Westward, will be encountered about 

 once a week. Northers will occur less frequently in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 but may still be of great violence. Icebergs and field-ice may be encoun- 

 tered off Newfoundland and over the Grand Banks. The regions of fre- 

 quent Fog are over the Grand Banks and George's Shoal. 



March. — The weather on the North Atlantic will be considerably less 

 severe than during February, the average Southern limit of the region of 

 frequent gales being a line from about Hatteras to the EngUsh Channel. 

 To the Northward, gales may occur as often as once in six days. Along 

 the coast of the United States, from Hatteras Southward, the winds will 

 be variable, t Northers will be less frequent in the Gulf of Mexico, but 

 may be fiercer on their first day and have less North- Westing in them. 

 The N.E. Trades will be somewhat weaker than in February. Icebergs and 

 field-ice have been encountered in March as far South as the 40th parallel, 

 between the 41st and 55th meridians. Fog will be encountered with 

 increasing frequency off the Grand Banks and the coast to the Westward. 



April. — Westerly winds, of less force, however, than during March, will 

 prevail over the transatlantic steamship routes East of the 60th meridian ; 

 West of that meridian, and along the Atlantic coast of the United States, 

 the winds will be variable. Gales may be expected about once a week 

 North of the 32nd parallel. Fewer Northers will be felt in the Gulf, and 

 those that do occur will not last so long as earUer in the season. The N.E. 

 Trades, having reached their Southernmost point, will now begin to extend 

 farther North. Probably very little or no Ice will be encountered this 

 month South of the 45th parallel. Considerable Fog will be experienced 

 off the Grand Banks and along the coast as far South as Hatteras. 



May. — Fair weather will prevail generally over the North Atlantic, with 

 occasional Northerly gales along the American coast, and moderate North- 

 Westerly gales along the transatlantic steamship routes. North of the 

 40th parallel. Northers in the Gulf of Mexico will occur less frequently 

 and will not last long, but are liable to be of great violence. There will 

 be a notable increase of Fog off the Grand Banks, due to the Northward 



