As a result of average strong west- southwesterly surface air circula- 

 tion over Newfoundland and the Northern Grand Banks beginning in 

 early April, the numerous bergs contained close in along the coast 

 rapidly moved out to sea, most of them into the Labrador Current, 

 By 11 April, 245 bergs had drifted east of 51° W. with the leaders 

 at 46° W., between 48° N. and 49° N. At this time there were an 

 estimated 205 bergs west of 51° W. and south of Belle Isle. Berg 

 distribution by latitude was estimated as follows : 



South of 48° N. 

 48° N.-50° N_. 

 50° N.-52° N_. 



38 

 280 

 132 



so' 59' 58" sr 56" 55' 54' 53" 52' 51 



W 49' 48" 



Figure 19. — Ice conditions Grand Banlis on 6 April 1964. 



The decrease in the number of bergs south of 48° N. from 1-11 

 April is mainly due to the fact that an estimated 35 bergs east of St, 

 John's in early April were driven by the wind to the east -northeast 

 several miles and back to north of 48° N, with some reentering the 

 main branch of the Labrador Current, Bergs in the main branch of 

 the current w^ere traveling very rapidly out to sea. During the period 

 6-11 April under the combined forces of an estimated Labrador Cur- 

 rent of 0.8 knots to the east-southeast and average southwest winds 

 of 25 knots, bergs drifted eastward 180 miles at a rate of 36 miles 

 per day. As bergs were approaching the northeast slope of the Grand 

 Banks the prevailing southwesterly winds were driving them east- 

 ward out of the Labrador Current and to the warmer waters north 

 of Flemish Cap and removing them as a threat to the major shipping 

 lanes south of the Tail of the Banks, It is estimated that the first 



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