50 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. FEBRUARY, 1901
advance of the storm center heavy snow fell in the middle-
western States and from the upper Mississippi Valley over
the Lake region and the interior of the North Atlantic States.
Special warnings of heavy snow were telegraphed throughout
the districts named on the 7th and Bth, and advicee were also
given in connection with the marked fall in temperature
which followed the paasage of the storm, and of the high
winds which it caused along the Atlantic coast.
A third well-marked storm appeared over California on the
8th; rain, however, set in along the coast on the 7th: and
during the night of the 7th the rain became general and
heavy over the State, with snow in the mountain districts.
By the morning of the 9th the center of this disturbance had shifted to a position off the southern California coast., whence
i t apparently passed eastward over northern Mexico during
the 10th. On the morning of the 9th killing frost occurred
in central and northern California, and on the 10th special
frost warnings were issued for southern California and Ari-
zona. Heavy to killing frosts occurred. generally in southern California on the morning of the 11th.
On the moruing of the 23d the following special warning
was telegraphed to Jacksonville, Fla., with instructions to
give it the widest possible distribution throughout the State:
Temperature will fall to-night to a minimum of between 20’ and 25’ at Jacksonville. and to freezing as far south as Tampa, with frost ex- tending somewhat south of the latitude of Jupiter.
Frost occurred as predicted, aiid the minimum a t Tampa,
Fla., the night of the 28d was 32O.
The following report on the cold wave warning has been
made by Mr. A. J. Mitchell, official in charge United States
Weather Bureau office, Jacksonville, Fla.
Referring to the cold wave warnings on the 23d and 24th ultimo, and the disposition made of the same by this office, I have the honor to re- port that action was taken immediately on the receipt of your telegram, with the view of widely disseminating the information. Nearly three hundred telegrams were sent from this office, which, in conjunction with the energetic measures taken by the various railwa s in the State, resulted in a gratifying distribution of the warnings t&onghout the State. Although the warnings were fully verified, it is, nevertheless, a cause for congratulation that minimum temperatures were not such
as to prove disastrous to the very large fruit and vegetable interests in this State. As indicated by the phraseology of the message, freezing weather prevailed as far south as Tampa, Fla., with a sharp frost south- ward to Dade County. .Past experience has taught fruit and vegetable growers that the month of February is a hapless one for their interests, and the far reaching measures put i n force with the view of protecting crops, amply testify to the necessity for the same, as well aa their abid- ing faith in the forecasts and warnings of the Weather Bureau. Pro- tective measures, now employed in this State, are such that had ex- tremely cold weather prevailed, the amount saved would have been enormous. Thousands of tents and sheds are available in north and north-central portions of the State, while quantities of fuel were con- veniently laced in the southern section, where the degree of cold is decidedly bas, and where open fires have proven sufficiently efficacious. The reports from orange and vegetable growers show that the were prepared to rotect, by the methods mentioned above, fruits an8 vege- tables valuegat $750,000. The value of oran e bloom, vegetables, and strawberries actually saved b the warning is $aced by them at $105,55O This is a small sum compareiwith the amount which would have been saved, had the cold wave been one of great and prolonged intensit . A few excerpts from the many reports received may show how firm& the weather service is established in this State. The official in charge feels secure in asserting that the relation of the Weather Bureau to the va:iousinterestsof Florida is that of a vital organ to the human sysAem. All bloom and new growth were saved under tents and sheds.
‘I A few degrees colder or a longer duration of cold would have killed trees without protection. The warnin saved them.”
‘I Warnings were effectual in savin kousandsof dollars. Thanks.” “The service is greatly appreciate!
‘I Many beans would have remainedinprotected but for the warning.
Everything was saved. The weather service is of great benefit.” “Warnin saved a large quantity of berries. YegEtaAe growers appreciate and are governed very much by the
Everyone was prepared to protect, and the warning concentrated
I consider the warnings of the greatest importance.”
D?‘not fail to continue the service.”
service.
thz forces.”
“ Weather reports are of incalculable beneflt to our people.” “The warning was of very great value. Weather reporta are very
I‘ Please continue sending special reports.” “It is worth a great deal to this vicinity to get these reports. I
Warnings are valuable as they have saved much to growers.’’
“ Our people watch this office every day for reports, and would be They are a great
“The warning enabled us to fire ’ and otherwise protect two hun-
People here appreciate weatfer reports and wait for them daily.” ’‘ The value of t h e service is amply demonstrated.”
I‘ Reports are looked for very anxiously daily.”
“ People appreciate these reports and wait for them.” “Weather forecasts are of inestimable value to orange growers. W‘ilthout them we might as well give up business.” Warnings are very profitable to orange growers and ‘truckers.”’ “I want to express our estimate of the value and also our high ap- preciation of the excellent service of the Weather Bureau. The suc-
cess of the orange industry in this vicinity depends Iar ely upon you. I want to thank you, also, for the daily charts. I find &em valuable, and !eel that they are indispensable to the success of my operations here.
The manner of disseminating frost warnings and the
methods employed in .protecting fruit from frost in Florida
is described as follows in the Chicago Record of February 28,
1901 :
Bellair, Fla.. February 25.-The United States Weather Bureau people sent a bulletin into Florida on Saturday last which created the greatest activity among the army of orange and pineapple growers from the Geor ia line to Key West. The Weather Bureau predicted that there woul! be a freeze as far south as Tampa, and frost farther south. Twenty minutes after the warning came thousands of teams were gal- loping along the roadways leading to pine forests. There was such a
bustle as one sees after a fire alarm has been struck. The wagons were loaded with pine knots, loge, and wood of all kindsand hauled at a run to the orange orchards. The stuff is arranged in piles north of the orchard and set on fire. Thousands of acres of fruit trees were saved by this kind of night work, which was general all over the orange- growing sections. Still another arm of workers were niade busy by the weather bul- letin. They were tze men, women, and children who attend to the orange tree tents, for thousands of orange trees are now protected by canvass which covers the whole tree. I n fine weather the canvass is rolled back so that the tree is exposed to the sunshine, but when Pro- fessor Moore sends his note of warning a whole household will sally forth to close up the tents. Inside t h e tent one or two kerosene lam are lighted which sufficiently heat the air to prevent a freeze. T E
. Their patches same warning serves to interest the pineapple of planta are mainly inclosed and covered with s?%pkiled on strin ers 6 feet overhead. The space between the slats lets in the sunshine $ur- ing fine weather. When a cold wave is signaled the “Iiands” run out
a canvass screen which slides on wires just under the slats, working on the principle of a shade in a photograph gallery. By means of these screens an acre-indeed sometimes five or six-are closed up and the plants kept snug and warm by means of fires lighted in different places within the inclosure.
A period of heavy rains began in the North Pacific coast
States on the 12th and continued through the 15th, causing
slight freshets in the Willamette River and tributaries. These rains attended the passage of areas of low barometer eastward
over British Columbia on the 13th and 15th. Heavy rains
and warm weather about the middle of the mouth aleo caused
a marked rise in the rivers of California. The rises in the
rivers of the Pacific slope were anticipated by special warn-
ings.
much appreciated here.”
hyye they will be continued.”
greatly disftppointed to have them discontinued. help to us.
drfd acres of young grove, savin even the tenderest growth.”
CYHIUAGO FOREaAST DISTRIUT.
The first storm of the month crossed the southern Rocky
Mountain region on the 2d, and its center moved forward
along the middle Mississippi and Missouri valleys during the
3d. It was accompanied by unusually heavy snow and high
winds in portions of the Missouri and middle Mississippi
valleys and the upper Lake region. Warnings of heavy snow were issued on the evening of the 2d, and on the morning of
the 3d supplementary meesages were sent out containing ad-
PEBRUABY, 1901. MONTHLY WEATHBR REVIEW. 61
days. Special warnings were sent to Colusa. On the morn- ing of the 20th special river reports were called for from all
points along the Sacramento River. Reports of the condi-
ditional information regarding cold weather. The second
storm moved across the Rocky Mountains on the 7th, and
over the central valleys on the 8th. This storm caused more
extsnsive precipitation than the preceding one. Heavy snow warnings were issued in advance of the niovemeut of the
storm, and were completely verified.
The Bureau received warm commendation from all sides
for the excellent work done in connection with these two large snowstorms.
The movement of cold waves in the district during the month was generally gradual, but when sudden clianges oc-
cured warnings were given well in advance. The tempera-
ture forecasts were carefully followed by shippers of perisha-
ble goods and transportation companies and were of niuch
value. Long range forecasts for continued cold weather were
made frequently with much success.-H. J. Cox, Professor.
Under date of February 21, in its editorial columns, the
Chicago Chronicle said :
owing td heavy riinsrand sta&s close to the danger linea
were reached. Cautionary advices regarding these rises were
issued by the officials in charge of the Weather Bureau offices
Our compliments to the gentleman in the tower of the Auditorium Hotel upon the accuracy of his prognnsticatione durin the last three weeks or so. No better exam le of the science of weat%er forecsstin
y p h l be desired. Every praxiction has been entitled to be markef verified,” even to the very difficult feat of foretelling the tempera- ture during the night. We doubt if the month’s record of the local forecaster has been equaled anywhere since the entablishment of the Weather Bureau. It certainly has not been excelled, because no higher excellence ie possible than the fulfillment of all predictions.
- d c1
a
Days. 1.0
-_
::T ::2 1.5 4.ot 8.0 2.0
22.6
......
......
5.w 9.0 1.w 2.5%
2.0 8.5 8.0
2.0 1.5 4.0 1.0
8.0
47.5
a.o
:.E
.....
.....
BAN FRANCISUO FOREUAST DISTRICT.
--
a d
2 z -
MUes. 5m
Bzo 458 Bou 944 800 875
6 ,W
6v2
698
E57 511
1.400 840
800 800 6%
950 400
1,000 576
811
11,400
7al
m
E
---
sa
L E I
--
Killing frosts occurred generally in southern California on
the morning of the 2d and were accurately forecast. A suc- cession of low areas passed rapidly southward on the Pacific
coast during the first week in February. These were ac-
companied by general and heavy rains. Advisory messages were sent to Loa Angeles and San Diego on the morning of
the 5th, of high southerly winds. These were verified. On Sunday, February 10, special frost warnings were issued for
southern California and Arizona. Heavy to killii’lg frosts
occurred in southern California on the morning of the 11th.
Heavy rains occurred over northern California. Conibiiied with warm weather, these gave the forecast official reason to
believe that a marked rise in the rivers would occur in a few
tion of the rivers were published and warnings of high water in the Basin were distributed generally through the press.
-AS OF HIGH AND LOW PRESSURI.
at Sail Francisco and Portland. Ice conditions remained practically unchanged, except in
Number.
Rlgh areaa. I. .............. [I .............. 111.. ........... IV ............ v .............. VI.. ........... VI1 ............ VI11 ........... IX ............
Sums.. ...... Mean of g
paths ..... Xean of m.5 d8p.. .....
Law areas. [ ............... 11.. ........... 111. ............ [V ............ v ............. VI ............. vn ...........
VI11 ........... IX ............. x..... ........ XI ............ XI1 ............ XI11 .......... XIV ..........
Sums. ....... Mean of 15
Mean of 47.5 days.. .....
‘March. t Y t i
paths.. ....
--
Flrst observed.
2 n
%a.m. 2, p.m. 7.a.m. 8, a.m. 9,p.m. 14,a.m. 1i.o.m. 22, p. m. S7,a.m.
........ ........ ........
1.a.m. a, a.m. 5.a.m. 7,p m. 9.a.m. 18,a.m.
15.a.m.
18.a.m. 18. p. m. 21,a.m. 21,p.m. 24, a.m.
%p.m. 27,p.m.
........ ........ ........
-
i
-
0
89 53 b9
41 E4 48
sa 85 42
... ... ...
88 41 ZB 40 59
40
49
83 41 40 40 48 84
88
....
....
.... -
-
6
8
ti
l4 -
0
82
laY 122 105 114 125
121
102
98
..... .... .....
115 188
vi I22 114 12.3
1%
vi 1% 105
109
85 112 100
.... ....,
...., - onary for 1 day. 1
Last obnerved.
d c1
d
!,a.m. ,,a.m. 8.p.m. 11,a.m. 14.a.m. 15,p.m. 22, a. m. 25. p. m., l,a.m.
.......... ......... .........
9.a.m. 1l.a.m. 9.p.m. 10. p. m. ll,a.m. 16, p.m.
18,a.m. 20.a.m. OO,a.m 25, a.m.
22 p.m.
%,a.m. 2.p.m.‘
18,a.m.
%‘a.m.
......... .........
.........
-
#i
i 4 -
0
48 89 Eo 88 48 50 21 32 82
.... ....
....
48 48 82 9s
47 40 4s 41 88
49 48 82
48 28 82
....
...
....
-
6
z!
Po
l4 -
0
74
ea vi 70 8 89 71 61
64
....
.... .....
54 51
65 115
88 75 89
74 65 1s
M 107 E4 82 65
....
....
....
I 2 d T s .
--
Itatlonary for + day. CStatlonary for 2
WU. 21.9 90.8 09. 9 S.8 19.1 88.8 89.4 38.8 98.6
359.6
28.8
%E. D
l .8 21.8
bs. 8 14.8
1 .8 20.0
8% 6 16.7 41.7 1 .0 28.9
65.6 84.0
_.
25.0
89. a
475.0
81.7
09.2
ays. -
RIVERS AND FLOODS.
River niritters were dull and almost entirdy uneventful
during the mouth. Stages, as a rule, were somewhat lower
than during January, 1901. A few minor flood warnings were
issued in the southern districts from the 4th to the 9th.
Nothing serious was anticipated and no damage of conse-
quence occurred. The rivers of the Paci6c coast system were
also coini3arativelv high during the third week of the month,