37 



April 3 a new depression put in appearance over Iowa and during 

 the next four days crossed the country, as shown on Figure 5, 

 track D. An interesting feature in connection witli this cyclone is 

 that it brought to the Newfoundland region, an area of low pressure 

 which prevailed there for the succeeding 10 days. In fact, the 

 general distribution of atmospheric pressure over the eastern United 

 States and out over the ocean including the ice regions, did not 

 materially alter for the nine-day period, April 7 to 16. Such a 

 stagnation in the characteristic progress of "highs" and ''lows" is 

 a rare phenomenon at this time of the year. The foregoing general 

 conditions are shown on Figure 6. The patrol, cruising on the Grand 

 Banks during this period, enjoyed excellent weather conditions. 



Fig. 5. — April cyclone tracks 



An interesting meteorological phenomenon took place April 16, 

 when in a locality about 150 miles southeast of Sable Island there was 

 witnessed the development of a disturbance (cyclone) of restricted 

 but considerable intensity. It traveled almost due east along the 

 northern edge of the Gulf Stream and the forty-second parallel, and 

 on April 17, passed about 140 miles south of the ice patrol ship. We 

 experienced easterly winds of increasing strength early the morning 

 of the 17th, which gradually backed to north and attained gale force 

 by nightfall. The lowest barometer reading at this time was 29.70, 

 clearly indicating that the Modoc was in the cold northern sector of 

 the storm, the center apparently passing at the rate of 15 to 20 Icnots 

 per hour. The strongest wind was from the north and north-north- 

 west, and some snow fell during the night hours. Conditions indi- 



