35 mph, causing a southeasterly circulation into Delaware, New Jersey and New York, with a wide trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean. The relatively warm maritime air flow1ng into the North Atlantic states provided a stable condition conductive to low ceilings and fog. As the low center approached the New England area, the gradient circulation was gradually swinging from the south towards the southwest.
Towards the evening of December 30, diurnal cooling and rain from higher clouds augmented the trend, and ceilings and visibilities throughout the area continued to drop. Several stations in the vicinity of Washington reported below minimum conditions by 1830 and by 1930 the entire Atlantic coast from Quantico to Northern New Jersey was covered by ceilings below 600 feet. La Guardia ceilings had dropped from 1500 feet at 1630 to 500 feet at 2030 and the visibility from 4 miles to 2 miles in that some period.
The alternates provided the flight upon departure from Philadelphia were Newark and Floyd Bennett Fields. Newark weather was reported as ceilings 500 feet; visibility one and one half miles. While the existing weather at Floyd Bennett was reported as 1200 feet overcast and five miles visibility five minutes after departure of the flight from Philadelphia the ceilings at both alternates were reported at 500 feet. Floyd Bennett is approximately 12 males from La Guardia Field and the forecast used in determining the selection of the alternates was equally applicable to both fields. However, under the conditions of circulation which existed at the tame, meteorological specialists in that area normally expect better conditions at La Guardia than at Floyd Bennett.
No records are maintained at La Guardia Field of weather transmissions from the tower to the flight and therefore the information concerning the surface winds provided the pilot by the tower cannot be determined accurately.
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