In the days before steam and diesel ship engines, sailors relied on the wind to fill the great sails to push the ships to their destinations. The trade winds were used by mariners to travel to the American colonies for trade and that is why they were called the trade winds. Sailors would leave England, travel south and catch the trade winds, which are located from about 5 degrees north and south of the equator to about 25 degrees north and south latitude. There are two large permanent sub-tropical high pressure systems at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator. The clockwise flow around a high in the northern hemisphere and the counter-clockwise rotation around a high in the southern hemisphere creates northeasterly winds just to the north of the equator and southeast winds just to the south of the equator. Now, these trade winds eventually come together at or near the equator. These converging winds create rising air, which creates clouds and showers along the equator. In this area, the winds are calmer and are known as the doldrums. Sailors tried to avoid this area because movement was very slow. Another area that mariners would avoid was underneath the permanent high pressure systems at 30 degrees latitude. Because of the sinking air, the winds were calm and sailors called these waters the horse latitudes due to the fact that sometimes the horses that were carried on the ships would have to be eaten for food or thrown overboard. Oh no!
Weather Last Week
March 16: -2/39/0”
March 17: 34/71/0”
March 18: 37/79/0”
March 19: 26/85/0”
March 20: 32/86/0”
March 21: 33/91/0”
March 22: 33/56/0”
Forecast discussion for the week ahead:
The chance for precipitation is very low for the next several days. High pressure is in control and that means more sunshine and mild temperatures. After a cool-ish end to the week, a lot of 60s and 70s are headed our way through the weekend and into next week.