icebergs were estimated to have 

 passed south of 48°N, and none 

 crossed south of 46°N. Aerial 

 reconnaissance confirmed that "...at no 

 time during the season did there exist 

 even a remote threat to the established 

 steamer tracks." In May, aerial 

 reconnaissance along the Labrador 

 coast located fewer than 100 icebergs, 

 most near shore. This is what makes 

 the 1951 iceberg season so unusual. 

 In both 1924 and 1931 there were 

 indications of substantial iceberg 

 populations in the bight of 

 Newfoundland, the Strait of Belle Isle, 

 and along the Labrador coast. The 

 iceberg population in those areas was 

 exceedingly sparse in 1951. 



1952: For the second year in a 

 row, surface patrol vessels were not 

 used. The February and March sea ice 

 extent was less than normal, and in 

 early March, persistent easterly winds 

 were reported. At the end of March, 

 numerous icebergs were seen in the 

 bight of Newfoundland. In April, many 

 icebergs and growlers were reported in 

 sea ice along the Labrador coast to 

 Hamilton Inlet. Despite the presence of 

 many icebergs north of Newfoundland 

 and along the Labrador coast, only 12 

 passed south of 48°N in April, none of 

 which moved south of 47°N. During 

 the entire season, 14 icebergs passed 

 south of 48°N. By May, there were no 

 icebergs on the northern part of the 

 Grand Banks, and only scattered 

 icebergs in the bight of Newfoundland. 



During March and April, 

 numerous icebergs were seen in the 

 vicinity of ocean station B at 56°30'N, 

 51°00'W by the Coast Guard cutters 

 occupying the station. This was a very 

 rare event. IIP speculated that these 



icebergs came from east of Cape 

 Farewell rather than the Labrador side 

 of the Labrador Sea, but, of course, the 

 actual source is unknown. 



1958: One iceberg passed 

 south of 48°N in 1958. The year 

 started with three months of persistent 

 onshore winds along the Labrador 

 coast and a mild Newfoundland winter. 

 As a result, the extent of the sea ice 

 near Newfoundland and Labrador was 

 considerably less than normal and April 

 SSTs were about 2°C warmer than 

 normal on the Grand Banks. The 

 surface patrol vessels were placed on 

 standby. The southernmost extent of 

 sea ice occurred on 29 April when a 

 belt of broken block ice was sighted off 

 Baccalieu Island. At the end of May, 

 ships using the Strait of Belle Isle 

 reported many large icebergs between 

 50°W and 52° W on their tracks (about 

 52°N). Many icebergs were reported 

 throughout the month of June north of 

 50°N, and eastward for 200 miles. 

 Between 10-21 February an ocean 

 station Bravo vessel sighted and 

 tracked three icebergs near 56°30'N, 

 51°00'W. 



1966: This year is known as the 

 year with no icebergs, with the 

 southern most iceberg reported at 

 49°05'N. The December and January 

 storm tracks were well south of normal, 

 resulting in strong onshore winds and 

 warmer than normal air temperatures in 

 Newfoundland and southern Labrador. 

 A major storm on 29 January brought 

 hurricane force winds to the region 

 causing much ice destruction. The 

 maximum southward extent of the sea 

 ice for the entire year was a narrow 

 tongue to 47°30'N that occurred on 17 

 March. By April, there were only 



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