114 Observations on the Husricanes and Storms 



Art. XV. — Observations on the Hurricanes and Storms of the 

 West Indies and the coast of the U. States; by W. C. Redfield.* 



It has been found by a careful attention to the progress and phe- 

 nomena of the more violent storms which have visited the West- 

 ern Atlantic, that they exhibit certain characteristics of great uni- 

 formity. This appears, not only in the determinate course which 

 these storms are found to pursue, but in the direction of wind, and 

 succession of changes which they exhibit while they continue in ac- 

 tion. The same general characteristics appear also to pertain, in 

 some degree, to many of the more common Variations and vicissi- 

 tudes of winds and weather, at least in the temperate latitudes. The 

 following points may be considered as established. 



1. The storms of great-est severity often originate in the tropical 

 latitudes, and not unfrequently, to the northward or eastward of the 

 West India Islands; in which region they are distinguished by the 

 name of hurricanes. 



2. These storms cover at the same moment of time, an extent of 

 contiguous surface, the diameter of which may vary in different 

 storms, from one to five hundred miles, and in some cases they have 

 been much rtiore extensive. They act with diminished violence to- 

 wards the exterior, and with increased energy towards the interior, 

 of the space which they occupy. 



3. While in the tropical latitudes, or south of the parallel of 30°, 

 these storms pursue their course or are drifted towards the west, on 

 a track which inclines gradually to the northward, till it approaches 

 the latitude of 30°. In the vicinity of this parallel, their course is 

 changed somewhat abruptly to the northward and eastward, and the 

 track continues to incline gradually to the east, towards which point, 

 after leaving the lower latitudes, they are found to advance with an 

 accelerated velocity. 



The rate at which these storms are found thus to advance in their 

 course, varies much in different cases, but may be estimated at from 

 twelve to thirty miles an hour. The extent to which their course is 

 finally pursued, remains unknown ; but it is probable, that as they 



* From Blunt's American Coast Pilot, twelfth edition. — Mr. Redfield'fs paper on 

 this subject (see Vol. xx. pa. 17 of this Journal) having been received with no small 

 interest, — the revised view which he has prepared cannot be unacceptable. 



