32 



eastward by May 15. This condition brought the area light variable 

 winds predominating first from the east then north and finally south- 

 westerly with more than expected percentage of good visibihty. May 

 16th found the Ice Patrol area enveloped in characteristic dense fog 

 due to a storm of considerable intensity over Nova Scotia wliich 

 brought a deep flow of warm Atlantic air over cold water resulting in 

 general fog from Nova Scotia to Flemish Cap. From the 16th on 

 the weather was distinctly characteristic of the season and regular 

 summer conditions existed to the end of the month. Although 

 light to moderate southwest winds prevailed, bringing fog and 

 frequent showers, it mattered little what direction the wind was from, 

 fog was always threatening and formed a real handicap to the patrol. 

 No high winds were experienced, none over force 5. Due to the 

 fact that the Patrol vessel spent much of the time well off the Banks 

 in warmer water the percentage of fog is lower than conditions 

 would indicate and is not representative of the Grand Banks. The 

 average temperature for the month was 42.5° F., and the percentage 

 of fog, visibility less than 2 miles, was 33.3 percent. (See figs. 22 



to 27.) 



JUNE 



The first part of June, with the exception of the storm discussed on 

 page 8, on May 31 and June 1, was mild and warm in the extreme. 

 During the latter part of the month the Patrol vessel was south of the 

 Tail and the resultant weather was more characteristic of the Gulf 

 Stream than of the Grand Banks. A continuous southwesterly breeze 

 blew with the usual mild showery weather. Every approach to the 

 Banks revealed a blanket of fog and reports showed that the whole 

 area was continuously fog-enveloped. Not a day passed from June 15 

 to 30, even south of the Banks, without some fog. The average tem- 

 perature for the month was 53.2° F., and the percentage of fog, 

 visibility less than 2 miles, was 50.2 percent. (See figs. 27 to 31.) 



JULY 



Summer conditions continued with light southwesterly breezes 

 giving fair but hazy weather over the warm water and fog patches 

 over the colder water. This persisted until July 9 when an occluded 

 front passed over the area bringing northwest winds of transitional 

 polar continental air behind it, and clear weather. By that same 

 evening, however, the southwest breeze reestablished itself and con- 

 tinued as long as the Patrol vessel remained in the area. The average j 

 temperature for the period was 64.3° F., and the percentage of fog, 

 visibility less than 2 miles, was 44.1 percent. (See figs. 31 to 33.) 



