DECEMBER, 1896. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 456
CUMATE AND CROP SERVICE.
By JAMES BERRY, LChlef of Climate and Crop Yervice Division.
The folloiving extracts in regard to the general weather
conditions in the several States and Territories are taken
froin the iiionthly reports of the respective services.
Snowfall and rainfall are expressed in inches.
AWmn.-TIie most noteworthy characteristics of the month were generally clear to partly cloudy weather and some little deficiency in warmth and moisture, as compared with the normal. Tlie niean tem- vrature was 45.4', or 1.3' less than normal. Tlie highest was 86'. at Citronelle on the 1st; the lowest, So, at Bcottsboro on tlie 6th. Tlie average precipitation was 3.59, or O.Li3 less than normal. The greatest monthly was 6.S1, at Newbury and Union; tlie least, 1.110, at C'1 I ai 'I lorne. Arizona.-The mean temperature was 44.0', or 9.0' below normal. The highest was 85', at Tucson University on the 4th and Buckeye on the 10th; the lowest, io below zero, at E lagstaff on tlie 19th. The average precipitation was 0.35, or 0.03 above normal. Tlie greateRt monthly was 1.52, at Pins1 Ranch, and the least, 'I trace," at Signal. Arkn~as.-The mean temperature was 43.i0, or 1.8' below nornial. The highest was iso, at Elon on the 18th and 10th and at Texarkana on the Blst; the lowest, 5', at Silver Springs on the 3d. The average precipitation was 3.96, or 0.38 below normal. The greatest monthly was 10.04, at \Vinslow, and the least, 1.31. tt Russellville. Snow fell in all portions of the State, ranging froin a trnce" in tlie extreme south to
5.00 at sonie stations in the central portion. C'alaYwwia.-The mean temperature was 62.9', or 6.8' below nor- mal. The highest was l l O o , on the Eth, at Galton in tlie desert re-
gions of Riverside County. The lowest, 1Y' below zero, at Adin on the 22d and at Bodie on the 29th. The average precipitation wa.4 1.95, or 547 below normal. The greatest nionthly was ll.:?, at Bowmans Dam; the lowest was 0.00, at Barstow, McMullen, and Needles. Co:olorado.-Tlie month was unusually cold on the western Slope. Tlie deficiency ranged between 5' and 9' daily. East of the C'ontinental Divide the tem erature was about normal over Larimer and Boulder counties, and Sgbelow tlie average over western Arapahoe, Bent, and Sedgwick counties. In other section: on tlie eastern Slope the month wati from 1' to 6' colder than usual. The hi hest temperature recorded was 73', at Smoky Hill on the 12th and at h n e a p o l i s on the 13th. The lowest, 5.5' below zero, at Gunnison on the lSth and SSth. The average precipitation was0.64, or about one-half the usual amount. Tlie greatest inonthly was -Ism, at Climax. Several stations reported no rain or snow. FbrtiIa.-Severe frosts occurred over the northern and north-central rtions of the State, and less seyere ones as far south as Eau Gallie and gelbourne. The mean temperature was %.io, or 7.3' below the nornial. The highest temperature was S6', at Lemon City on the lst, and the low- est, 2So, at Archer on the 6th. The average precipitation was 1.63, or about one and a yuarter inches below normal. The greatest monthly was 6.37, at Jupiter, and the least, 0.43, at Eissimmee. Qwrgh.-The mean teniperature was 46.5', or about 1' less than nor- mal. The highest, SO', was recorded at Morgan on the 7th, aiid tlie lowest, go, at Diamond on tlie 31sL The avera e precipitation was 3.14, or 1.10 less than norinal. The greatest monthy was 5.71, at Uis- mond, and the least, 0.93, at Brag. Snow fell on several days in tlie northern counties, but was very light, except in the mountain districts. I&io.-The mean temperature was 23.Yo, or 1.3' below normal. Tlie highest was a', at Fraser on the 6th and Lewiston on the 12th; the lowest, 23' below zero, at Chesterfield on the 30th. Tlie average pre- cipitation was 2.05, or 0.16 above normal. The greatest niontlily amount was 5.06, at Fort Sherman, and the least, 0.3U, at Dowiiey and Oakley. High winds were of frequent occurrence during the latter part of tlie month. IlliianO.-TIie mean temperature was 2.8' above normal. Tlie Iiighest was io' at Mount Vernon on the 24th, and the lowest, So below zero, at Ashton on the 3d and 5th, Chemungon the 35, and Oswego on tlie6th. The precipitation averaged more than 3.26 above normal. The greatest was 8.08, at B rin field, and tlie least, 1.41, at Lanark. I t is es- pecially noteworthy &at &e heavy rain came w-ith a thaw which took the frost from the ground and permitted the rain to be absorbed, thus preventing damaging overflows and wetting tlie sui1 thoroughly. Indwiuz.-The mean temperature was 34.1', or 0.9' above normal. The highest was 69', at Ashboro on the 2lMi, and the lowest, 2 O , at Lo- Fayette on the Sd and Gunman on tlie 31st. Tlie average precipitation was 4.50, or 1.55 above normal. The greatest occurred in the northern portion of the State, and the least in the southern. The reatest monthly was 8.25, at South Bend, and the least, 2.80, at Bedforf. Iowil.-The mean tem rature was252', or 1.7' above normal. Tlie highest was 63', at Keogk on the l i t h , and the lowest, 16' below zero, at Rock hapids on the 2d. The average precipitaton was 1.63, or nor- mal. Ita distribution was very unequal; most of it fell in the southeast
and east districts. The largest amount was 5.74, at Fort Madison; the least, 0.00, at Estherville. liicmza.-TIie mean temperature was 33.4', or 1 3' below the normal. The hi hest was is', at Meade on the 13th, and the lowest, io below zero, n t Coofidge on the 3Mi. The average precipitation was l.iS, or U.61
above noruial. The greatest monthly was 12.45, at Oswego, and the least,
" trace," at Macksville and Phillipsburg. The stornis of the 16th to the 24th caused great Hoods and much damage i n tlie southeastern counties. A>nlrcckg.--The mean teni erature was 3P.Yo, or very near normal. The highest was 7 i 0 , at Pltlikah on the %Ii, and the lowest, Go, at Pri!iceton on the 4th. The average ,recipit,ation was4.42, or about 0.i5 above normal. The greatest inontlAy 'total was G.W, at Russellville, and the least, 2.66, at Sandy Hook. Lou.isicz.iia.--The mean temperature was 51 .So, or 2.Ro below normal. The hi lierrt was 81' at Schriever on the lst, and the lowest, lSo, at the North Eouiaiana Experiment Station (Chllioun) on the 30th. The average precipihtion was 4.48, or I L i i nbove normal. The greatest monthly wits 7.14 at Amite, and tlie least, l.Yi, at Slireveport. dhyhlklntl.-The mean temperature was Si.G0, or 2.1' above normal. Tlie Iiighest was 70', at Pocoinoke City on the ?]st, and tlie lowest, io, below zero, at Deer Park on the 4th. The avenge precipitation was 2.4Y, or 1.1.46 below normal; the greatest was 3.5, whicli occurred at Western Maryland College, Westminster, and tlie least, 1.50, at Deer Park. Seventeen inches of snow fell during the moiitli at Oakland. Nichigan.-TLie iiiean temperature \\'as 3i.6', or 0.3' above normal. The highest. wasM0, at Birmingham on tlie 25th and Adrian on tlie 26th; tlie IoweBt, 1s' below zero, at Flint on the 13th. The average grecipi- tlttion was 4.89', or S.3Yo aLove normal. The average total precipita- tion was the greatest of which t.liis bureau lias record during any De- cember. The continuous 10-day rain from the 16th to the 2tith is also unprecedented in tlie December record8 of the State. The greatest month1 precipitation, 10.66, occurred at Benton Harbor, and the least, 1.20, at %arbor Springs. Niiiiie.wlu.-The mean t.eniperature was 18.3O, or 0.9' above normal. Tlie highest was5l0, at Winonaand MinnesotaCity on the l i t h , and the lowest, Si', below zero, at Pokegama P:dls ,on the 30th. The average precipitation was 0.28, or 0.C3 below the normal. The greatest was 1.55, at Winona, the lowest, (J .0 , at St. Cloud. Mish.&ppi.-The mean temperature was 4i.3', or 0.2' below nonnal. The highest m.s Sl", at Vaiden on the Z3d, and the lowest., loo, at Duck Hill on the 5th. The average precipitation was 5.M, or 0.05 below nor- mal. The largest monthly was 7.34, at Brookliarenand Vaiden, and the sniallest, ?.3i, at Austin. The rainfall was very well distributed over the entire State. Mhotcri.--The mean t.eni erature was 34.3', or 0.4' above normal. The highest was 69', at Appkton City on the litli, and the lowest, 8'.
below zero, at McCiine Station on the Sd. The average preci itation was 6.19', or 4 .1 9 O above iiormal; The greatest monthly totat 13.67, occurred at Phillipsburg, aiid the least, 1.28, at Marr ville. In the southwest, central, and northeast portions of tlie State tfie greater part of tlie rainfall of the month fell during the storm which prevailed from the l i t h to.the 2Mh. A t Pliillipshurg, hcletle Cbunty, the tCJta1 fall during this storm was 12.8). 6.95 falling between 5 p. ni. of the 17th and 6 p. m. of the 1Sth. A t Lebanon, in the same county, the tutal pre- cipitation for the storin was 10.50; at Springfield, Mount Vernon, Law- rence County, and Fulton, Callaway County, it. exceeded 9 inches and over the greater p r t of tlie central and sout.hwest sections, and a con- siderable portion of tlie northeast section, i t exceeded ci inches. This phenonienallv heavy rainfall caused destructive tloods in tlie Osage, +li, Syring,'Ciascoiiade, Meraniec and Cuivre rivers and their tributa- ries, :tnd other streams in the southwest, central, and east-central por- tions of the State. The Osage River is reported to have been tlie highest since 1M4, and tlie floods were the worst ever known to have occurred at tliis season of the gear. Bridges and culverts were washed out; many buildings were submer ed, their contents destroyed, and a large number of faniilies rendere8 destitute. &mttzm&.-Tlie mean temperature \vas 27.0', or abclut 2.0' below nor- iual. The highest was 70°, at Poplar 011 the IlJth, and tlie lowest, 29' I)clow zero, at Glasgow on the 2d. The average precipitation was 0.i9, or about 0.06 tbhove normal. Thegreatest niontlily was 2.78, at Libby, and the least, 0.0'2, at Pun River. The niontli was remarkable for high winds over the entire State; an iron bridge spanning the Yellowstone River 4 iiiiles south of Liviiigston was wrecked by them on the night of the 27th. Nebnrahw.-The mean temperature was 2S.l0, or 2.5' above normal. The highest was 6S0 at Benkleman on the 9th, and the lowest, 12' be- low zero, at Hay Springs on tlie ?<I. The average precipitationwas0.15, or 0.64 below normal. The largest was 1.34, at Rulo; at several sta- tions there was neither rain nor snow. Nemda.-l'he mean temperature was 2S.0°, or 1.7' below normal.
466
BY FBPD. J. RANDOLPH and FRED. L. FF~ANCIS. of the Weather Bureau.
The following items are extracted from notes furnished to
MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW.
Alexander McAdie, published in the Popular Science Monthly, Vol. XLV, p. 331, and in Weather Bureau Bulletin No. 11.
DECEMBER, 1896
The highest was 78' at Hamilton on the l l t h , and the lowest, 34' below zero, at Stofiel on the 18th. The average recipitation was 0.42, or 1.26 below normal. It was extremely light alp over the State. The defi. ciency amounted to 4.12 at Tuscarora, and the only excess was at Wads. worth. The reatest monthly was 3.0i, at Lewers Ranch. and the least, 0.00, at ks Vegas and St. Thomas. Neao,&ghnd.-The mean temperature was 31.5', or 3.2' above nor. mal. h e highest, 71', at Norwalk on the SGth, and the lowest, 3' be- low zero, at Berlin Mills and Enosburg on the 13th. The average re cipitation was 3.12, or 0.44 below the normal. The greatest monhy amount was 6.88 at North Conaay, and the least, 1.40, at New London. The ground was not well covered with snow during the month and il
is feared the frequent thawing and freezingof the surface of the ground has injured grass and grain roo&. The want of snow has been severely felt in the lumber districts. Nao Jcreay.-The mean temperature was 37.2', or 4.i' above normal. The highest was i6', at Moorestown on the %th, and the lowTest, 3', a1 Deckertown and Newton on the 13th. The average precipitation was 2.61, or 1.01 below normal. The greatest monthly was 5..1",'at Engle- wood, and the least, 1.71, at Barnegat. Nsro iUe&o.-The average temperature during the month was de. cidedly below normal, and, with one exception, was the coldest Decem- ber since the establishment of the station at Santa Fe, in 1851. The highest temperature was 73', at Eddy on the 14th and Roswell on the IBth, and the lowest, 23' below zero, at Ranches of Tam. on the 31th. The avera e precipitation was considerablv above normal and was fairly well distr%uted over the Territory. The greatest total was 2.90, at Chama. Aztec, Engle, and Olio reported only a " trace" and Ban Mar- cial, 0.00.
New rork.-The mean temperature was 3.1' above normal. The hi hest temperature was 69O, at Victor on the -Wh, and the lowest, ISc bekow zero, at Baranac Lake on the 15th. The average precipitation was 3.70, and was generally above the normal. The greatest monthly was 6.31, at Canton, and the least, 1.68, at Middletown. N i t h CaToline.-The mean temperature was 43.4', or 0.3' below nor- mal. The highest was 78' at Newbern, on the 2d, and the lowest, 5', at Linville and Waynesvdle on the 6th. The average precipitation was 3.4, or 0.59 below normal. The greatest amount was S.49, at Lin. ville, and the least, 1.03, at Rutherfordton. North Dah;ota.-The mean tem erature was 13.8', or 0.3'above norn~al. The highest was 6P, at Berth& Agenc, , on the T t h , and the lowest, 32' below zero, at h e l e 011 the 1st. h i e average precipitation was 0.29, or 0.61 below normal. The greatest amount w a s 0.88, at IVhite Earth, and the least, 0.03, at Willow City. Ohio.-The mean temperature was 3:3.9', or 1.2' above the normal. The highest was 79', at Coalton on the -Wh, and the lowest, 13' below zero, at Warsaw on the 13th. The average precipitation was 3.85, or 1.25 above the normal. The greated. was 6.72, at Wauseon, and the least, 1.65, at Thurman. Precipitation occurred at various point8 in the State on every day of the month, and, in the main, was very well dis- tributed. OkLlrot#&a.--The mean temperature was 39.4', or 0.9' below normal. The highest was SG', at Hennesse on the 6th, and the lowest, Yo below zero, at Hennessey on the %ti. The average precipitation wa8 4.14, or 1.69 above normal. The greatest monthly total was 12.i0, at Vinita, and the least, 0.65, at Alva. Oragon.-The mean temperature was 38.8', or 0.1' above norinal. The highest was 6So, at Langlois on the l l t h , and the lowest, 17' below zero, at Lorella on the 29th. The average precipitation was 10.62, or.4.34 above nornial. The greatest monthly was 25.10, at Ne- halem, and the least, 0.59, at Dayville. The precipitation exceeded all previous records for this month, the amount being almost 1.00 more than the next rainiest December, which was that of 1891, with an average of 9.72. The number of rainy days was unusually large. The station at Government Camp, 011 Mount Hood. reported a total fall of snow during the month of 130 inches. The observer at Tillamook, Tillamook County, reports as follows: Friday, December 13, there was an unusual ele&ric display in this vicinity. There were several vivid displays of sheet lightning acrosn the heavens, seeming to permeate all space with flashes of fire, accom- panied with tremendous crashes of thunder. Several trees and houses were struck, thou li no serious damage was done. The public sc11001 building was struct, and the balls of fire rolled .around promiscuously in every room. The same phenomena was noticed in several dwelling- hpuses, and several cases of electrical burning are reported. Lighb nin came into the telegraph office, but did little dama e there. Notting like it was ever seen before, so all say, and it seems &e whole
locality was pervaded with the peculiar electrical demonstration. The storm was followed by a very low barometer. Pennnylwnh.-The mean temperature waa 34.20, or l.5O above nor- mal. The hi hest was 70' at Shinglehouse on the 21st, and the lowest, 10' bekw zero, at Ifollidaysburg on the 14th. The avera e precipitation was 3.22, or 0.05 below the normal. The reatest monthfy amount was 6.55 at Wellsboro, and the least, 1.40, at 8oylestown. 8owlh G'oroliiia.-The mean temperature was 46.1', or 2.20 below nor- mal. The highest was SOo, at Slaws Forks on the 25th, and the lowest, 13', at Gillisonville on the 6th and at Central on the 13th. The aver e precipitation was 3.04, or 0.19 below normal. The greatest monzly amount was, 0.55, at Holland, and the least, 1.25, at Central.
&!%?Ll?b Duhici.-The mean temperature was 22.7', or about 2.0' above normal. The highest was 69", at Fort Meade on the E t h , and the lowest, 25' below zero, at Webster on the 2d. The average precipita- tion was 0.17, or about 0.46 below the average. The greatest monthly amount reported was 1.43, at Webster, and the least, a "trace," at several stations. The month, as a whole, w w an ui~usi~ally pleasant one. Tetriwssee.-The mean temperature, 41.3, was normal. The highest was is', at Waynsboro on the 15th and 23d, and the lowest, 2', at Rug- by 011 the 6th. The average precipitation was 4.20, or about 0.26 above normal. The greatest monthly was 7.35, at Tullahoma, and the least, 1.59, at Bristol. Tt?.me.-The average temperature for the State was 3.1' below normal. It was generally deficient, except in the northeastern portion of south- western Texas, where the excess amounted to 1.0'. The precipitation averaged, for the State, 0.43 below normal. There was an excess of from U.11 to 3.0i along the east coast, which extended less than 25 miles inland, and an excess north of the thirty-first parallel of lati- tude, east of the one hundredth meridian, of from 0.06 to 2.01. Over other portions of the State there was a general deficiency, greatest over southwestern Texas and the southern portions of central Texas, where less than 40 per cent of the normal amount occurred. The greatest local monthly amount was 6.10, at Marshall, and the least 0.00, at Fort Ringgold. D;otah.-The mean temperature was 21.0', or about 7.0' below normal. The highest was a', at St. Georges on the I2th, and tbe lowest, 34' below zero, at Fort Du Chesne, on the 18th. The average preci itation was 0.78. The greatest monthly rainfall was 1-70, at Heber and t f e least, "trace," at Cisco, Giles, and Grover. The snowfall averaged 9 inches. li',.gink.-The mean temperature, 39.0', does not show any marked departure from the normal. The highest, i6', occurred at dshland on the 24th and 25tl1, and the lowest, 1' below zero, at Dale Enterprise on the 14th. The average precipitation was 3.89. There was no great de- parture from the normal, except at Alexandria. It was enerally uni- formly distributed over all sections. The greatest monthky amount waa 6.29, at Cape Henry, and the least, 0.58, at Alexandria. Snow felt in all sections, but most frequently and heaviest in the western counties. Washiugglon.-The mean temperature was 37.4', or 0.6' below normal. The highest was 66', at Connell on the 14th, and the lowest, So below zero, at Ellensburg and Moxee on the 2 d . The average precipitation was 9.00, or 2.M above normal. The reatest rainfall for the month, 2S.14, occurred at Monte Crista and tfie least, 0.42, at Moxee. This was m e of the stormiest months on record. Rainstorms occurred al- inost daily, and severe windstorms followed each other in ra id and constant succession, but none were so severe as those of Decemfer 5-12,
1894. A t many stations there were only two or three da s on which there was no rain. Snow to the depth of 19Sinches fell at Lonte Crista and 165 inches at Cascade. The extraordinary depth of snow caused extensive blockades in the mountains. West Virginia.-The mean tem erature was 3G.S0, or very near1 nor- mal. The highest was i3', at duefield and Hewett on the 25d, and the lowest, 6' below zero, at Bloomery on the 14th. The avera e pre- ci itation was 3.91, or about normal, and was uite evenly distri%uted. Tie greatest monthly total, 4.14, occurred at #farlinton, and the least, 1.85 at MorgantoNn. Greatest depth of snowfall 9.0 at Marlinton. #iwonso'a.--The mean temperature was 25.1", or 3.1' above normal. The highest was 60°, at Antigo on the Slst, and the lowest, 26' below zero, at Butternut on the 30th. The average precipitation was 0.54, or 3.38 below normal. The greatest monthly was 3.44, at Sharon, and the least, 0.10, at Osceolo Mills. The average snowfall was 4.4 inches. The greatest amount was 15.5 inches, at Butternut. Il)oyom~ng.-The mean temperature was 23.0°, or slightly below nor- mal. The highest was io". at Embar on the Eth, and the lowest, 16O below zero, at Sheridan on the 2d, and Laramie on the 9 t h . The aver- "ge total precipitation nas0.45, or about normal. The eatest monthly was 2.10 at Sundance, and the least, 0.00, at Lander anfFort Washakie.