A most violent hurricane occurred in 1780, which destroyed Lord Rodney's fleet, and a vast number of merchant ships. It is said to have killed 9,000 persons in Martinique alone, and 6,000 in St. Lucia. The town of St. Pierre in Martinique was totally destroyed; and only fourteen houses in the town of Kingston, in St. Vincent, were left uninjured.
677. Why do the most violent storms occur in and near the tropics?
Because there the temperature is very high, and the cold currents of air rushing towards the equator from the poles, causes great atmospheric disturbance.
Whirlwinds are produced by violent and contrary currents meeting and striking upon each other, producing a circular motion. They generally occur after long calms, attended by much heat.
Whirlwinds occurring at sea, or over the surface of water, sometimes put the water in motion, and as the wind rises upwards it lifts with it a whirling mass of water, producing a water spout.
"Out of the south cometh the whirlwind; and cold out of the north."—Job xxxvii.