150 OBSEEVATIONS ON THE WINDS. 



not always go round the same way, yet, in general, they "next go to the 

 Southward and Eastward, with thick squally weather and rain. 



From Tampico to the Bay of San Bernardo, breezes from the South- 

 Eastward are steady and pleasant from April to August ; but, in the 

 remaining months, this coast is much exposed to gales from the East and 

 E.S.E., which blow without intermission for two or three days, before a 

 North comes on. As far North as about latitude 26^°, there are land- 

 breezes in the summer, which blow from midnight until 9 a.m. 



(74.) Gulf of Mexico, North Coast.— On the Louisiana Coast, from San 

 Bernardo Bay to the Mississippi, in winter, the South winds are very tem- 

 pestuous and squally, the most dangerous months, however, being August, 

 September, October, and November, the season of Hurricanes. Between 

 the Mississippi and lat. 28° N., on the Florida Coast, from April to July, 

 the Trade Wind prevails from N.E. and S.E. in the morning, changing in 

 the evening to S.W. These S.W. winds, known as Virazones, are very 

 squally in August, September, and October, during which months South 

 winds blow hard. North winds blow from November to March. 



On the West Coast of Florida the Trade Wind blows till noon in summer, 

 when the sea-breeze sets in. In winter, November to March, the wind 

 blows from S.W., and raises a heavy sea. 



In Florida Strait, and over the Bahama Islands, the Trade Wind blows 

 from one or two points Northward of East in winter, and to Southward 

 of it in summer. Northers occur in the former season. From June to 

 October, at the Bahama Islands, light Southerly winds and calms, with 

 terrific squalls, are experienced. 



A series of observations on the Winds and Tides were made by the 

 officers of the United States Coast Survey, between June, 1847, and July, 

 1852. The force and direction of the wind were noted at three stations — 

 at Galveston, in Texas, lat. 29° 18' N., long. 94° 46' W. ; at Fort Morgan, 

 Mobile Bay, about the middle of the North coast, in lat. 30° 13' N., long. 

 81° 0' W. ; and at Kay West, one of the Florida Kays, in lat. 24° 38' N., 

 long. 84° 48' W. These observations, however, have the same imperfection 

 as that noticed in the note (*) on page 133 — that the winds are not recorded 

 equally for all points of the compass. However, the following general re- 

 marks are useful and interesting as derived from these observations, and 

 are arranged in the form of diagrams, which need not be repeated here. 



(a). Winds from some Northern quarter prevail from September until 

 February, both inclusive, and Southerly winds from March to August, 

 inclusive. Winds from the Eastward prevail throughout the year, except 

 at Fort Morgan, in May, June, July, and August, when the sea-breeze is 

 from the S.W. In the whole year the winds from the same quarter. North 

 and South, balance each other nearly, while the Easterly wind greatly 

 predominates over the Westerly. 



(b). The months may be arranged, according to the prevailing winds, 

 mto the following classes : — The Winter, consisting of December and 

 January ; the Spring, of March and April ; the Summer, of May, June, 

 and Jidy ; of prep.aration for change, August ; the Autumn, of September 

 October, and November. 



The Winter and Summer types are extremely distinct. At Kay West 



