660 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. DECEMBER, 1923
On the 16th and 17th the general conditions over the ocean were quieter than usual, although on the former date a number of vessels encountered moderate gales in widely scattered localities, while a "norther " prevded in the Gulf of Mexic.0. Storm log:
Honduran S. S. Yoro:
Gale began on the 16th. wind NE. Lowest barometer 29.0(1
Highest
On the lSth two well develo ed LOWS appeared; thv
the North Sea. On the 19th the emtern LOW did not appear wit.hin the limits of the map, while the movement, of the western disturbance was sli ht during the nest 4 days. Froiii
over the region between the 30th and 45th parallels and the 55th and 65th meridians.
inches at 5.30 p. m. on the 16th, wind NNW., in latitude 30" 21
N., longitude 95' 18' W. force of wind 9; shifts 6 points. End on the 17t$ wind ESE.
first in the vicinity of Newfound P and and the second over
the 19th to 21st in0 fi erate to st,rong northerly gales swept
Storni logs:
American S. S. Ophis:
Gale began on the 19th, wind NW. Lowest barometer 30.OF inches at 4 a. m. on the lOth, wind NW., 9, in latitude 33' 20' N., longitude 56' 40' W. Highest force of wind 9, NW.; steady NW.
American S. S. Innolo:
Gale began on the 18th, wind NNW.
Eiid on the 21st, wind NW.
Lowest barometer 29. P2 inches at noon on the 21st, wind NW., 7, in latitude 40' 53' N., longitude 54' 17' W. Highest force of wind 8; shifts NNW.-NW.
On the 23d westerly to southwesterly gales were re- ported near Hatteras, and the third "norther" of t.he month made its appearance in the Gulf of Mexico. On the 24th heavy winds continued along the American coast and storm logs were received from vessels as f n r east as the 54th meridinn. On t.he same clay an area of low pressure covered a portion of Great Britain, ncconi- anied by westerly gales off the southern coast o I
En land.
8 n the 25th the western disturbance was central nenr latitude 35' N., 1ongit.ude 65 OW.,. and winds of gale force were encountered in the vicinit-y of the Bermudas.
End on the 21st, wind NW.
Stom log: British S. S. B?.ildjbrd City:
Gale began on the 35th, wind SW. Lowest Imromet,er 2Y.GD inches a t 3 g. m. on the 25th, wind SW., 9, in latitude 34' Pi., longitude 57 50' W. End on the 27th, wind NW. Highest, fnrrc of wind 9; shifts SSW.-SW.-WNW.
On the 25th a second depression appeared near latitude 52' N., longitude 55' W., wit.11 southerly gales in the easterl quadrants.
latitude 43' N., longitude 42' W., while i t was im oSsil.de
tions. Storm ly:
Lowest baromet.er 39.5s inches a t 3 a. m. on the 36th, wind SW., 9, in latitude 41" 20' S.,
longitude 44' 40' W. Highest force of wind 9; shifts SW.-R.-SW.
On t % e 26th the western disturbance was central near
to 1ocat.e the eastern LOW on account of lack of o % sen-a-
British S. S. r d :
Gale began on the 26th, wind SW.
End on the 27th, wind SW.
American S. S. Conness Peak:
Gale began on the 25th, wind SW. Lowest ba<omet.er 39.91 inches a t 4 p. m. on the 25th, wind W., 9, in latitude 4ti" 39' N..
longitude 11' 52' W. Highest force of wind 9, NW.; shifts WSW.-W'.
Chart.s VI11 to XI1 show t.he conditions from the 2it.h t.0 the 31st, inclusive, durin which period the heaviest storms of the month occurrefi, as the ocean was swept by gale after gale, the wind a t times attaining hurricane
End on the SSth, wind NW.
force. .i4 glance a t the charts will show the different areas of LOW pressure that caused these conditions, and also how the storm area varied in extent from day to day. British S. S. Jhnchester Jlerchanf:
Gale began on the 2Gth, wind SW. Lowest barometer 29.53 inches a t 4 a. m. on the 27th, wind WNW., in latitude 40" 25' N., longitude 49O 02' W. Highest force of wind 10; shifts SW.-WNW.-SSW.
British S. S. Ga7tymore:
Gale began on the 27th, wind SE.
End on the 30fh, wind W., 10.
Lowest barometer 28.89 inches at 2 a. m. on the 28th, wind WSW., 12, in latitude 48' 26' N., longitude 45' OS' W. Highest force of wind 12; shifts SSW.-WSW. End on the 2Sth, wind WSW.
French cable S. S. Edouard Jeramec:
Gale began on the 2St.h, wind SE. Lowest barometer 28.68 inches at 2:30 a. m. on the 20th, wind WNW., in latitude 43' 30' N., longitude 63' 40' W. Highest force of wind 10; shifts ESE.-SE.-SW.-NW.-WNW.
British S. S. Arub:
Gale began on the 28th, wind SW. Lowest barometer 29.59 inches a t noon on the 29th, wind SW. 10, in latitude 36' 30' N., longitude 52' OS' W. End on the 30th, wind NW. Highest force of wind 12; shifts SW.-W.-WNW.
End on the 30th, wind WNW.
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
By WILLIB E. HURD.
In the report for the preceding month it was indicated that November, as regards the severity of the weather, lay between niont,hs having eriods of maximum activity.
upon the ocean of an extensive area of high pressure from Mon olia. The North Pacific HIGH was practically
was centrnl as a major disturbance over the Gulf of Alaska. Between these two reat atmospheric pressure
which, on December 4, covered a range o 2.31 inches, or between 30.32 and 28.01 inches within latitudes 35' and 50' N., longitudes 155' and 161' W. In consequence of such conditions strone gnles to full hurricane wmds pre- vailed along the noraern shi ping routes to the east- ward of t,he liOth meridian oFwest longitude from the
1st to the 6th of the month. During t,he period of niasimrun intensity of this storm, vdiich occurred on t,he 3d to 5t.h, six vessels encountered winds of hurricane force. These were t,he Japanese S. S. Yogt,L Maw, the Brit.ish S. S. Mongolian Prince, and the American steamships Dewey, Northwestern, President .Nandison, and Wmf Jenn. With the exce tion of the Weat JCnu, t.hese vessels were eastward bounl. The Z'ogen dlhru, Cnpt. G. Kuwana, Observer IC. Sato, passed t,hrough the heaviest winds on the 3d, direction west-northwest, lowest pressure 25.41 inches, in latitude
50" 50' N., longitude 165' 45' W. The MongoZian Prince, Capt. J. Chilvers, Observer H. A. Shaw, experienced gales froin the 1st to the cjth, dong the 49th parallel, between longitudes 169' W., and 1-10" W., accompanied by fierce
rtm, snow, or litiil squalls. On the 2d the wind attained
H, force of 11 from the west-southwest, lowest pressure 28.71 inches: in -No 16' N., 165' 53' 11'. On the 4th the highest wind WBS from the west., force 12, lowest pressure 2S.71 inc.hrs, in -19* 32' N., 1%' 3.5' W. On the 5th the vessel dill was in the terrific gale, highest force 11, west- southwest,, wit.h precipitous seas. The wind moderated and pressure rose on the 6th.
December opened in tshe IY ar East with the entrance
normal in P ocation and pressure, and the Aleutian cyclone
extremes of the eastern Paci tf c a sharp radient existed
9
DECEMBER, 1928. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 66 1
The Dewey, Capt. C. Ash, Observer L. A. Snyder, bore the brunt of the hurricane on the 4th. At Greenwich mean noon the vessel was in 50' 12' N., 162' 26' W., pres- sure 28.16, esperienchg a whole gale from the soubh. It was followed by hurricane velocit,ies, and lowest pressure of 38.01 inches. At G. M. N. of t,he 5th, in 4s' 56' N., 157' 39' W., there was still a whole gale from t-he south, pressure 25.13 inches, but, short,ly afterward condit,ions moderated. The West J e m , Capt. P. T. Hansen, Observer T. V. Hughes, had a rough voyage between Portland. Oreg., and Jagan. Stormy conditions began on December 1, near 49 33' N., 135' 50' W.. nnd continued until after the 17trh, when in 49' N., 173' 55' E. She experienced the hurricane of the 5th, near 50' 30' N., 147' W., wind north- west, lowest rec.orded pressure 38.50 inches. Several other vessels involved in t.his storm encount,ered winds of forces 10 and 11.
On t,he 6th an importnnt offshoot, of t.he cyc.lone entered the Canadian northwest and traversed the northern part of t,he United Stat,es during t.he succeeding two or thee days. Occasional gales of force 7 or 8 were reported from tho northern courses in east longitutles during the first ten da s of the month, but there seems to have been no de
The Aleutian center until the 10th was rac.tic a. 11. y con- fined to the eastern area. On t,his date, towever. a dis- turbance from the west appeared, and two centers of minimum pressure were apparent over northern wnt.ers. Gales were not extensively reported n t t.his time, alt,hough violent winds occurred over various sections of t,he middle and northern routes east of 170' west longitude on the 9th to 13th. Later, or from t,he 11th to tho 17th1 stormy c.onditions prevailed to the westward. The British S. S. Ocean Prince encountered heavy squalls while runnin up the coast between North Head
half of the period a strong HXTI was entering the nortli- west coast of the United States. With falling barometer, late on the loth, the Ocean Prince for a time proceeded in a southerly gale, highest force 12, lowest pressure 29.77, in 48' 07' N., 125' 17' W. North Head recorded
a 73-mile wind on the 11th.
On the 12th three steamships near 45' N., 163' E., were caught in severe weather during the passage of a cyclone. The American S. S. Crosskeys reported a west- northwesterly gale, force 11, lowest pressure 29.48. The Japanese S. S. Shidzuoki Mam encountered a north- wester1 ale, force 10, lowest pressure 29.61. The Jap- anese 28. Nankai ilfami. also reported a whole ale from the west-northwest, lowest pressure 29.35. Tfis storm was closely followed by a strong anticyclone. Late on the 9th a slight disturbance appeared near the Hawaiian Islands, and on the 10tsh was central somewhat to the north-northeastward, with moderate gain in en- ergy. The storm moved northward and b the 13th
noted on the 10th and 11th near latitude 33' N., longi- tude 157' W., by the h e r i c a n S. S. Melrose. North Head station on the 13th esperienced an 80-mile gale from the southwest. From the 15th to the 17th of the month storm condi- tions approximating in energy those of the 4th and 5th in more eastern waters settled over the northern routes between 45' and 50' N., and 160' E. and 170' W. The storm had swept seaward from northern Japan on the
ci B ed storm activity in these nmters during this decade.
and Vancouver on t 9 le 9th to 11th. During the early
was occu ying a osition in the eastern Gul H of Alaska. Gales as R P igh in orce as 10 attended this storm, being
13th, accom anied by gales of reported forces 9 to 11
which Exten B ed through the 14tsh. On t-lie 15th, in latitude 48' 33' N., longitude 179' 05' E., the American S. S. West Cuyote experienced a
southeasterly gale, force 12, lowest pressure 29.32 inches. On the following day the Jfipanese S. S. Nun.lcui Mum fell in with a westerly g;ale, force 11, lowest pressure 29.07, in 49' 52' N., 175 30' E. On the 17th hurricane velocities from a westerly direction were encountered by the Japanese S. S. T O ~U Ma.ru, in 50' 05' N., 174' 16' E., lowest ressure 29.10; by the British S. S. Doonholm, in 47' 30' E., 165' E., lowest pressure 29.22; and by the American S. S. West Jenu, in 49' N., 173' 55' W., lowest ressure 29.64. After this date the storm seems to have os t energy. During a storm which lav off the const of Canada and northern United States on die 17th, North Head recorded a maximum wind velocity of 88 miles from the south. Reports at sea some distance to the southward and west- ward indicate only light to moderate gales at this time. On December 20 a genernl int,ensification of storm conditions took place over the northeastern part of the Pacific. Near 41' N., 164' W., the American S. S. ilfanwlani report,ed a southwesterly ale, force 9, pres- sure 29.18, and the American S. S. if orthwesttrn entered upon a period of stiff southerly gales which lasted until the 224 while the vessel was OB the Alaskan coast above Sitka. On the 31st the American S. S. C'rosskeys was beset by a south male, force 10, lowest pressure 29.40, in 49' 36' N., 135' 3?ZJ W. A second depression formed in the neighborhood of Hawaii (luring the 23d and 34th, and ave some gales of force S to the northeastward of the is F ands on the 24th. It had moved westward on the 25th, and on the 26th lay to the northeastward of Midway Island, whence it seems to have moved into the Aleutian area on the 29th or 30th. Another storm entered the Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia combs on t,he 34th and 25th. This did some. damage to shi 'ping, and, on t,he 25th, broke aJl previous records for hig I wind velocities at Tacoma and benttle: at Tacoma with a mt-isimum wind of 53 miles, and a t Seatkle, with 66 miles, bot,h from the south. At Gray's Harbor an 80-mile gale lashed the coast. At North Hend the highest velocity was 73 miles an hour from t.he sout*li, on the night of tahe 34th. The storm was accompanied by almost unprecedented lightning for December. Few vessel reports of this storm are a t hand, and t.hese give no wind-force higher than 10. After crossing the United St.ates, the cyclone entered the North Atlantic Ocean vigorously on the 28th and 29th. Severe gnles occurred to the southward of the Aleutian Islands on t.he 24th, due to a strengthening of the cyclonic conditions to the westward of Dutch Harbor. The American S. S. Bea.rport, bound toward Seattle, reported the highest force of wind, SSE. 11, in counection with the st,orIii, in latitude 49" 10' N., longitude 178' 13' E., lowest pressure 39.15. On December 25 and 26 an Asiatic cyclone entered t,he sen from northern Japan. While no very low pres- sures were observed during its nssage, several vessels within its influence were involve 1 in stron to dangerous gales. The American S. S. Tejon, in 40' I$., 146' 50' E., on the 26th, encountered a southwest gale, force 10, lowest ressure 29.69 inches, accoiiipanied by severe electricaf phenomena. The British S. S. Ca;nad.ian Transporter, eastward bound, experienced whole gales to hurricane winds, from the west to northwest on the
P
662 MONTHLY WEATHER R.EVIEW. DECEMBER, 1023
26th and 27th, lowest pressure 29.50. On both days the ship's position was near 41' N., 153" E. Southerly gales, force 10, occurred near the 180th meridian on tne 27th and 28th, and were reported by the American S. S. V7est Jessup, eastward bound, in latitudes 47" to 48' N. At the close of the month moderate to whole north- westerly gales ocFurred off the Biiierican cons t, from northern Californ~a to Washington , following t.hc PI'-$-
sage inland of a slight depression. These giil~s were a parently severest between 40' and 50" N., near :ml a ong the 130th meridian. Variable weather was niet with along the Americm coast from Panomu to San Diego. Calms and light tlirs were frequent, although gales of forces 7 to 10 occurrcd on several cla.ys. The strongest winds, as usual, blew from the Gulf of Tehunntepec. In the lower Far East two tropicd storms occurred. These receive mention below. Pressure for December, 1933, bused on p. ni. ohser- vations taken a t the island stations, was at. Honolulu the same as t*lie average, at Dutch Harbor slig1it.ly bc- low, and at Midway Island iiiuch above average. The average for the month t i t Mitlway Island was 30.30 mches,. whereas that for the 13 ears of record, 1915 t.c 1923, inclusive, is but! 30.03. $he previous high value was 30.14, in 191s. The highest pressure of the month, 30.38, was recorded on the loth, l l t h , and 12th; the lowest, 39.74, on the 26th. The 1). in. ~~' ~u r e nt Dutch Harbor was 29.52 inches, RS coinparec with an nverago of 29.55. The himhest pressure, 30.1G, was recorded 011
the 15th, 23~1, an8 27th; the lowest, L'S.52, on t,he 4th-- absolute range 1.G4 inches. The p. 111. pressure nt
Honolulu was 30.01 inches, which is the stuiic ns t.lio normal. The highest pressure, 30.12, occurreil on t,lie 16th; the lowest, 29.77, on the 23cl.
The North Pacific high-pressure arcti, while it fiuct.u- ated in size and intensity, was Iwcjkcn up coii;parntive!y little during Deceniber. Thc EIuwaiian st.onns of t,lica 10th and 24th were the main distur1)ing eleiiients to t,lio
HIGH, except from the nort.11, whenever the Alcutiilri cyclone oscilla.ted southward. The weather at Honolulu w i s fine, but the doutlicst on record. The average u-in11 velocity was 10 miles: per hour, with velocities esceediii 35 niilcs per hour on t.hc
16th; 37 NE., 17t.h. The prevailing direction was east. The
heaviest percentage occurred outside of Snn Francisco harbor, where it was noted on five days. In utldit.ion scattered occurrences were re orted off the coast of south-
the eastward of Japan.
r
following dates: 39 NE., 13t.i; k 39 NE., 15th; 41 NE.,
ern California, along the nort E ern steniiier routes, uucl to
Very little fog was reported by ocean obaciTers.
TWO TYPHOONS IN THE FAR EAST DURING DECEM- BER, 1923.
By REV. Jost CORONAS, S. J.
[Weathrr Rurwn, Atmila, r. I.]
There were only two typhoons in the Far East during the last month of December-one over the southern part of Luzon md the other over the Pacific to the east of the southern part of the Philippines. The h t t phoon appeared on the 3d to thc NE. of Samar and 2 of the soutrheim part of Luzon near 127' longitude E., and between 13' and 14' lat,itude N. It
moved W. b N. on the 3d and then inclined to IT. a d and W. b on the 4th. The body of the storm was
by S. of Manila) having fallen to 740.75 mm.,' 29.16 inches, a t 2 p. m. of the ith, while in Manila it was as
high as 7GO mm., 29.92 inches. The center passed .over the northern part of Calnarines Norte, over 100 houses rtnd many big h e s having been blown down in the town of Pnracide, where this typhoon is considered as one of the strongest typhoons esperienoed there in many years. The iiitensity of the typhoon clecreased considerably while traversing the nort.liernmost part of Cam% rinos '
Norte and tho southern part of the Province of Tabyiibas. The center passed during the night ahout 50 miles to tlie south of Manila moving W. by S. or WSW. The other typhoon was of htirtlly any importance for tlie Phili It appeared south of Tap on tlie 18th
N., and moved W. by N. unt,il the ZOtli, when it recurved slowly to the north mid northeast near 130" 1ongit.ude E. and h w e e n 7' and 11" ltttitude N. On tlie 24th the center was still shown by our Weather Ma s in about 134" longitude E., 19" latitude N. muving N 8 4 . or ENE., it hii\+lg been inipossible to follow it after the 24th.
very smal T , the barometer a t Daet (about 120 miles E.
ines. near 13s BP longitude E. nnd between ti' aiid 7" latitude
TROPICAL CYCLONE IN THE NORTH INDIAN OCEAN.
Ilio British S. S. Cyclops, Chpt. W. Cosker, froreeding from Suez to S i g n ore, on Decciiilwr 19, wiile south- west of the Lnccn cf ice Isl:mds, encount,ered a tro ical cyclone moring in a westerly direction. Observers 8. A. Blow, second officcr, and R. W. Ellis, fourth officer, reportd the following:
Decei1ii.w lSt!i, inidnight. Overcast, frequent rain squalls. \I'ind N., force 4. I)ecemf.er 19t.h, 4 a. in.: C!ont.ini~ous rain. 3fodera.te NE.
sea. Wind N., force 4. 9:SO a. in.: Barometer 29.68 inches (uncorrected~ , ron~menced fnlling. Iienvv mill. Wind N., force 6. Koon. Lutiturle 9" N., Intlgit.ude 67' E:. Hertvy rain. Wind NW., ft.lrre 7. Rough so%. Bar, 29.44 i:?c!ies. 055 11. m.: Hove to. 330 p. lii. to S 1). iu. lIeav,v sqiia!l, force 12. Rarom- eter 3R.OS incbes, with wind shifts from NW. t,) 11'. High NW. niirl w'ly sea. 3 30 1'. 111. : Siiiiilar co:idit.ions, ljarometer 39.32 inches. 4 1). ill.: W n c l SG. !~y K., fori.e P. smile confused sea, Imrometer '79.29 ixhes. 4:30 11. in.: Weather moderated, sky cleared, rain CCBF.~:~, vessel ltcpt away on course. S:30 p. m.: Wind SE., force 4 4 , lmrometcr '139.63 inches. Slight w'ly swell. (A . J . McC'., j r .)
DETAILS OF THE WEATHER IN THE UNITED
STATES.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
By XLPRED J. IiENRY.
The outstmrling characteristic of the m0nt.h was t,he continued low pressure in Alask;~ :~nd thence southward to about 50" north lstitude. As a direct result the drift of the aimosphercr O V C ~ tlie .Unitcc-l Sttites and Csnzuln \viis, in generill, in an cwt-west direction with reinitrkaLlg few interrupt.i:.lns in a nort,h-s#.lutli tlireciion. Anticj-rlones crmc in iriirii the I'ncific and moved mpidly :Lcrciss the country, yet enst of t,lie Rocky Mountrnins the temperature was cr<ueptionn!l-j~ iiiild for the seasm. The uaud details foliow. __ ___ .. - - - --_ _--
1 Gr3vi y correctiuu not nppplied.