PART II.
INSTRUMENTAL AND OTHER LOCAL INDICATIONS OF APPROACHING STORMS.
[Compiled from reports made to the Chief Signal Officer by observers of the Signal Service, U. S. A.]
Albany, N. Y.
Storms set in with southerly winds, and are always preceded by falling barometer, and usually by falling temperature, with nimbus or cumulo-stratus clouds.
Alpena, Mich.
Cirrus, cirro-cumulus or cirro-stratus clouds in upper, and a dull haze in lower atmosphere. Lower winds from westerly direction, falling barometer and rising temperature.
Atlantic City, N. J.
Coronas and halos; prevalent haziness in lower atmosphere; cirro-stratus clouds; unusual amount of humidity; stationary barometer occurring after either a considerable rise or fall of the mercury; backing winds.
Augusta, Ga.
Slowly falling barometer, with rising temperature, and wind from the east or southeast, usually indicates rain, which continues until wind veers to the west or northwest; cirro-stratus clouds precede wind and rain, and are frequently noted from one to three days in advance.
Baltimore, Md.
General storms by very high barometer, dense haze, light, variable winds from east or northeast.
Southeast and southwest storms preceded by high temperature, low barometer, and brisk northwest winds.
Local storms preceded by unusually high temperature, cumulus clouds, and rapidly falling barometer.
Fort Benton, Montana Ter.
Wind storms, preceded by low barometer, low humidity, cirrus or cumulus clouds, with wind from west or southwest, generally the latter.
Rain, preceded by cumulo-stratus clouds, with wind from west to north and northeast, barometer moderately low, remaining stationary during storm.
Snow-storm, same condition as rain, except that barometer falls and stratus clouds prevail.
Bismarck, Dak.
Rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, and light southerly winds indicate rain or snow, according to season of year.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, with wind from northeast or east, indicate snow.
Fine cirrus and cirro-stratus, floating low, presage wind.
Haze in night or early morning, or cumulus clouds, sharp and well defined, moving from west or southwest, indicate fair weather.
When snow is falling, and the wind backs from east to north, with decreasing velocity, clear weather may be expected.
Breckenridge, Minn.
Sudden movement of barometer in either direction, rising temperature, light cumulus clouds, with northwest wind, precede wind-storms.
Sudden depression of barometer, rising temperature, cumulus or cumulo-stratus clouds, with southeast wind, precede rain or snow storms.
An approaching storm is indicated by unusual clearness of the atmosphere, and frequently by lunar halos.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Rising barometer, with comparatively clear sky, mild temperature and light to fresh winds from west to southwest.
Light cirrus or cirro-stratus clouds move from the west, apparently very high in the atmosphere; humidity and wind decrease, and occasionally a calm ensues. This is followed by light winds from northeast, east, or southeast. Barometer begins to fall, and temperature to rise slowly; humidity increases steadily; cumulus clouds appear, moving slowly from west or southwest, and are soon followed by cumulo-stratus; wind increases in velocity, and shortly before precipitation occurs a dense white vapor, resembling haze, and moving with the surface current, gradually covers the whole sky.
Wind-storms are preceded by unusually rapid barometric depression, increase in temperature and humidity, stratus or cumulo-stratus clouds, with southwest winds. Water at the head of Lake Erie rises in advance of the storm.
Burlington, Vt.
Rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, and cumulo-stratus or stratus clouds, with wind from south or southwest.
Cairo, Ill.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, stratus or cumulo-stratus, with wind from the south or southwest, precede rain; wind-storms are preceded by rising barometer, falling temperature, and cirro-stratus clouds, with brisk wind from west or northwest. Well-defined lunar halos are followed by rain.
Cape Henry, Va.
Northeast storms are preceded by rapidly rising barometer and upper clouds (usually cirrus), moving rapidly from northeast in long white sheets changing to stratus in short time, and covering the whole sky.
Southeast storms are preceded by rapidly falling barometer, unusually low humidity and variable southwest winds. Heavy ocean-swell in advance of storm and from same direction in which storm is advancing.
Cape Hatteras, N. C.
Winter rain storms preceded by rapidly falling barometer and heavy cirro-stratus clouds, with wind from southeast or southwest.
Upper clouds moving from southwest indicate rain, but if from west or northwest, fair weather.
Heavy ocean-swell from southeast indicates rain from that direction. Wind storms preceded by dense haze, rapidly falling barometer, and rising temperature with southerly winds and with northerly winds, rising barometer, and falling temperature with low humidity.
Cape May, N. J.
Easterly storms are generally preceded from twelve to twenty-four hours by an unusually clear atmosphere, with high barometer and temperature. Light winds prevail and mirage in various forms, but more particularly the variety known as “loom,” which enlarges distant objects in such a manner as to render distance very deceptive. The sea comes in with a long, heavy, easterly, ground swell, and a decided increase occurs in the rise of the tides. An unusual twinkling of stars is observed, and a larger number of them are visible, extending nearly to the horizon. The first clouds are generally cirrus, from the west or southwest, followed often by haze, which gradually thickens and lowers into a stratus, forming a heavy bank in the southwest, which gradually extends over and into the northeast, the whole mass deepening and lowering until nimbus clouds form and appear moving with the wind. Storms of the greatest severity and duration are generally with the wind from north-northeast to east-northeast, and rapidly increase in violence. They are attended with, or preceded by, a rapid depression of the barometer. Temperature rises for a veering, and falls for a backing, wind.
Easterly storms, slowly forming, are attended by moderate winds.
Storms from the southeast are often violent, but of short duration, lasting only from six to twelve hours, and shifting suddenly to the opposite direction.
Charleston, S. C.
During the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September, storms are preceded by slowly diminishing pressure, rising temperature, increasing humidity, and cumulus clouds, with wind from the west and northwest.
Winter storms come from the northeast and southeast. Those from the northeast are preceded, for several days, by brisk wind from that direction, rapidly rising barometer, slowly falling temperature, increasing humidity, with stratus clouds moving slowly from the northeast until the whole sky is covered and a dense mist begins to fall, which soon becomes rain as the clouds approach the earth. Storms from the southeast are the most dangerous. They are preceded by light and variable southeast winds, falling barometer, and rising temperature. The day immediately preceding thestorm is generally a fine one, with a few cirrus or cirro-stratus clouds, increasing humidity, wind variable, and rising slowly.
Cheyenne, W. T.
Rain storms are preceded by a low barometer from twenty-four to forty-eight hours before their arrival, with wind from southeast, east, northeast, and north.
Snow-storms strike the station from southwest, northwest, or north, all storms of magnitude coming from the latter direction.
Wind-storms are preceded by a low barometer, with much briefer warning than in the case of rain and snow storms, often occurring within two or three hours after the first instrumental premonition. Temperature rises and humidity increases; cirrus clouds move from west to northwest.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ordinary rain storms, preceded by falling barometer, increased temperature, hazy atmosphere, cirrus clouds, and northeast wind.
Corsicana, Tex.
Approach of norther indicated by bank of clouds in north or northwest when the balance of sky is clear.
Gentle or brisk east wind precedes rain. Southwest or west wind indicates the approach of clear, dry weather.
Davenport, Iowa.
Rain storms generally preceded by an east, southeast, or south wind.
Wind storms preceded by steadily falling barometer, with light wind from southwest.
Denver, Colo.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, cirro-stratus clouds, with westerly winds. Most reliable indications of storms are seen to the north and west on the mountains. A cap of clouds on the high peaks, or low cumuli below the summits, presage rain or snow. For wind, a black wall of cloud generally forms between high peaks and the foot-hills, completely hiding the peaks and extending only five or ten degrees above the horizon.
Detroit, Mich.
Falling barometer from twelve to twenty-four hours in advance of storm, with wind from southeast or northeast.
Dodge City, Kans.
Falling barometer, with light southeast wind, hazy atmosphere, cirrus clouds, and low humidity.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Wind storms preceded by rapid fall of barometer, with cirro-stratus and stratus clouds moving from the west; wind changeable, backing from southeast to west.
Rain storms preceded by slowly falling barometer and large masses of cirrus and cirro-cumulus moving from southeast. Surface winds southwest, south, and southeast.
Duluth, Minn.
Northeast storms, preceded by hazy atmosphere and fog over the lake, the former turning to stratus and the latter to nimbus cloudas storm approaches. Falling barometer, increasing humidity, and falling temperature.
Northwest storms by low and falling barometer, rising temperature, high and increasing humidity, with cumulus and cumulo-stratus clouds. This class of storms most frequent in winter and spring.
Northern storms by falling barometer, falling temperature, increasing humidity, and cumulus clouds; most frequent in winter, and accompanied by snow.
Southern storms by falling barometer, rising temperature, increasing humidity, with hazy atmosphere.
Eastern storms by high and rising barometer, rising temperature, increasing humidity, with stratus clouds.
Western storms by falling barometer, high or rising temperature, and humidity, with heavy banks of stratus clouds in western sky. Occur at all seasons of year.
Fogs are usually followed by rain within twenty-four hours.
Eastport, Me.
Northeast storms are preceded by slowly falling barometer, falling temperature, stratus clouds in the east, which spread over the entire sky.
Southeast storms are preceded by heavy fall of barometer, falling temperature, increasing humidity, stratus clouds, and detached “scud,” with wind shifting from east to southeast.
In summer a continuance of southeast wind is followed by rain. Sea-gulls gather together in flocks near the shore, uttering a peculiar cry.
Erie, Pa.
Storms from north, northwest, and west are preceded by falling barometer, brisk to high southerly winds, rising temperature, and increasing humidity.
Storms from the southwest to southeast are preceded by slowly falling barometer, rising temperature. With steady south wind at any season of the year rain is probable within twelve hours.
Fort Gibson, Indian Ter.
Falling barometer, rising temperature and low humidity, the latter forming an important element. If wind veers suddenly from southwest to west, rain follows; if this change occurs slowly, wind follows.
Cirro stratus changing to cumulo-stratus twenty-four to forty-eight hours in advance of storm.
Fort Sully, Dak.
Rapidly rising and very high barometer, low temperature, cirrus or cirro stratus clouds moving from the north or northwest, with surface wind from southeast, backing to north and northwest. High summer temperature, usually followed by brisk and high south and southeast wind.
Galveston, Tex.
“Northers,” preceded by slowly falling barometer, decreasing humidity, wind south or southeast, veering to north, with cirrus or cirro-cumulus clouds moving from west or northwest.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Sudden storms, by sudden fall of barometer, increase of temperature, high humidity, with haze in lower and cirrus clouds in upper atmosphere, moving from the west.
Winter storms, by high and rising barometer, rising temperature, low humidity, cirrus and cirro-stratus clouds moving from the west. These followed by falling barometer, with wind veering to east and southeast, and stratus clouds.
Indianola, Tex.
“Northers” are preceded by protracted southeast winds, rapid rise of barometer from four to six hours in advance of storm, high humidity, with cirrus clouds moving from the west.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Falling barometer and rising temperature from four to six days in advance of storm. Hazy atmosphere, wind north to northeast, cirrus clouds moving from west and southwest; wind veering to east, southeast, and southwest.
Keokuk, Iowa.
Falling barometer and cirrus clouds, with fresh easterly wind, precede rain or snow, according to season.
Key West, Fla.
“Northers,” from October to May, preceded by hazy atmosphere, easterly winds veering to southerly, cirrus, cirro-stratus, and cirro-cumulus clouds, moving slowly from the southwest and west, and finally a bank of stratus clouds in the western horizon, apparently stationary. Falling barometer, high and rising temperature and humidity.
Cyclones from July to November are preceded by northerly and easterly fresh and brisk winds, drizzling rains at intervals, for several days, low and nearly stationary barometer, steady, high temperature, dark scud flying low, with surface wind, and cirrus, cirro-stratus, and cirro-cumulus clouds above, moving slowly from the south and west. The height and action of barometer and state of weather are the most notable signs.
Rain storms prevail from May to November, are preceded by hazy, close atmosphere, average low barometer, high temperature, rising of “thunder heads” in the horizon in the direction from which rain is to be expected, with an almost imperceptible motion and an appreciable fall of barometer, several hours before storm approaches.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Barometer moves rapidly for a storm of short duration, temperature rises, wind from east-southeast, south and southwest, from eight to twenty-four hours previously, with upper clouds moving from the west, wind stronger and of greater duration, with rising rather than falling barometer. Rapid movement of cirro-stratus clouds indicates wind, but is seldom observed.
La Crosse, Wis.
Barometer falls steadily for twenty-four hours, with rising temperature, increased humidity, and cirro-stratus clouds before rain. Wind storms same as above, with addition of cirrus of great elevation moving in opposite direction to surface wind, and apparentlyhighly electrified. Winter storms are preceded by gentle south or southwest wind, veering to north or northeast.
Leavenworth, Kans.
Rain storms are preceded from twelve to forty-eight hours by barometer falling steadily, increasing humidity, high temperature, with wind east or south, cirro-stratus clouds in southern or western horizon, and eastern horizon obscured by haze.
Red sky at sunrise indicates strong winds; if humidity is much below the mean, the color is usually a brilliant scarlet; if humidity is high, the color is more crimson, with a purple tinge and rain follows. When wind backs from northwest to southwest, clear weather follows.
Lexington, Ky.
Local storms are preceded by falling barometer, unusually high temperature, low humidity, and cumulus clouds; northwest storms, by falling barometer, cirrus clouds and wind veering to east; southwest storms, by falling barometer, unusually high temperature with wind backing to east and northeast.
Louisville, Ky.
Barometer falling slowly for forty-eight hours, unusually high temperature and humidity, cirro-stratus clouds in morning for two or three days in advance of storm, and light south wind.
Winter storms are generally from the northwest, with falling barometer for twenty-four hours in advance.
Long Branch, N. J.
For northeast storm, falling barometer, rising temperature, cirro-cumulus or cirro-stratus clouds, moving from west or southwest with lower atmosphere hazy. If wind backs to northeast from southwest, precipitation is greater than when it veers to the same quarter. For eastern storms same conditions, except, that upper clouds move from the westward. For northwestern storms the fall of barometer is most rapid.
Lynchburg, Va.
Long-continued rain storms are preceded from six to twelve hours by rising barometer, cirrus clouds moving from the southwest, with surface wind for the northeast.
Hazy and smoky atmosphere indicates rain. Before rain, especially when wind is in the south, the leaves of the maple, aspen, poplar, and willow trees curl up so as to show their under side. When cumulus clouds drift over low enough to cast perceptible shadows, rain generally follows within forty-eight hours.
Marquette, Mich.
Falling barometer for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, rising temperature, southerly wind, with cirro-stratus clouds moving from a westerly or southwesterly direction.
Memphis, Tenn.
Northwest storms are preceded by slow fall of barometer at first, followed by a more rapid fall as storm approaches; fresh southwest winds, backing to southeast, rising temperature and humidity, with slow formation of stratus clouds.
Greatest rainfall occurs with southeasterly winds.
Southwest and west storms are preceded by winds from the northeastand east, with same instrumental indications as for northwest storms.
Mobile, Ala.
Barometer falls slowly ten or twelve hours, and more rapidly two or three hours before storm; stratus clouds with southeast wind.
Morgantown, W. Va.
Falling barometer, rising temperature and humidity, with southwest or west winds, and cirrus clouds moving from the westward.
In winter a storm usually follows a falling barometer, with south wind. If barometer falls one-tenth of an inch between 7 a. m. and 12 m., bad weather follows within thirty hours. In winter, high temperatures are generally followed by bad weather, especially if accompanied by winds varying from northwest to northeast.
Increase of humidity between 12 m. and 3 p. m. is usually followed by rain before night on same day.
Backing of wind to southward, with falling barometer, nearly always followed by bad weather.
All wavy forms of cirro-stratus are sure signs of an approaching storm. In summer, when cirrus moves from northwest or north, a storm follows within thirty-eight hours.
Mount Washington, N. H.
Falling barometer, falling temperature, and cirro-stratus clouds moving from a northerly direction. When in small quantities these clouds indicate wind, and when in large quantities rain.
Nashville, Tenn.
Barometer falling slowly from twelve to forty-eight hours, increasing temperature and humidity, cirro-stratus clouds moving from southwest, with easterly surface wind from one to three days in advance of storm.
Crimson sky in morning is generally followed by rain within twelve hours.
New Haven, Conn. (Furnished by Prof. E. Loomis.)
Great storms are frequently preceded by an unusually pleasant day, so that a very transparent atmosphere may, perhaps, be regarded as an indication that a storm may be looked for within twenty-four hours.
One of the first indications that we are on the edge of a great storm consists in a slight turbidness of the atmosphere which would scarcely attract the attention of an ordinary observer, but which is sufficient to cause solar halos during the day and lunar halos during the night, if there is a moon. During the colder months of the year, our great storms are usually preceded by a rise of the barometer above the mean and a veering of the wind to the northeast. If the barometer rises considerably above the mean, and is accompanied by a fresh wind from the northeast, a storm is pretty sure to follow within twelve hours.
A considerable fall of snow is very frequently preceded for several hours by the same signs (high barometer and northeast wind), together with a feeling of extreme chilliness, much greater than is usually experienced with the existing state of the thermometer.
During the warmer months a strong breeze from the south, accompanied by towering cumulus clouds, is pretty sure to be followed by rain within a few hours, generally a thunder-storm. Thephenomenon which is most decidedly local in New Haven is the direction of the prevalent wind, together with the diurnal change in the wind’s direction. During the six colder months of the year the prevalent wind is from the north-northwest, and the diurnal change in the wind’s direction is slight. During the six summer months the wind in the morning usually blows from the north or northwest, but by noon, and sometimes by 10 a. m., it veers to the south or southwest, and continues thus for the remainder of the day. This peculiarity is supposed to be due to the difference of temperature between the land and the neighboring water, and it modifies, very sensibly, the direction of the New Haven wind in the neighborhood of the storm centre. During the passage of a great storm the wind at New Haven is much more northerly than is experienced at interior stations similarly situated with reference to a storm centre.
New London, Conn.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, cirrus and cirro-stratus clouds moving from the westward, light scud over the sea horizon moving with the surface wind, which is usually from the southwest. Humidity increases, and tides are of unusual height.
New Orleans, La.
Rapid movement of upper clouds, with little or no wind at surface. Falling barometer for several days in advance of storm, with rising temperature. Southerly winds precede rain, with cirro-stratus clouds moving from the westward.
New York, N. Y.
Rain storms, preceded by falling barometer, rising temperature, increasing humidity, cirrus clouds in upper with stratus in lower atmosphere, spreading gradually over the whole sky from the eastward.
Wind storms from an easterly direction, preceded by rapidly falling barometer, with frequent oscillations, rising temperature, increasing humidity moving rapidly at a great height.
Westerly storms, by rapidly rising barometer, free from oscillations, falling temperature, increasing humidity, changeable winds, with cirrus clouds in upper and stratus in lower atmosphere.
Norfolk, Va.
High and rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, low humidity, unusually clear atmosphere, with southeast and east winds.
North Platte, Nebr.
Low followed by rising barometer, cumulus and cumulo-stratus clouds moving rapidly from northwest and west.
All storms approach from the northwest without reference to direction in which wind may blow previously.
Rain storms are preceded by north or northeast wind.
Omaha, Nebr.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, high and increasing humidity, and easterly winds.
Oswego, N. Y.
Wind storms are preceded by rapid fall of barometer, with wind veering from southeast to southwest, west, and northwest.
Rain storms, by oscillating barometer, with downward tendency, hazy atmosphere, gradually changing to cirro-stratus or cirro-cumulus clouds moving from the westward.
Northeast storms, by high barometer and low temperature.
Local storms, by sudden fall of barometer, rising temperature, low humidity, cumulo-stratus clouds in west or southwest.
Pembina, Dak.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, with wind from south, southeast, or southwest.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, easterly wind, haziness in upper atmosphere, followed by cirro-stratus clouds moving from the northwest.
Peck’s Beach, N. J.
Rising barometer for two or three days, followed by sudden fall with heavy ocean-swell from the eastward, six or eight hours in advance of storm.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Falling barometer fifteen to thirty hours in advance, rising temperature, variable easterly to southerly wind, with cirro-stratus clouds moving from southwest or west. A dense fog or haze indicates rain within twenty-four hours.
Port Huron, Mich.
Thick heavy haze or clouds in northwest, with southeast wind, indicates rain. Low and falling barometer, with wind from the west-northwest or east-northeast, indicates wind.
Portland, Me.
Rain storms are preceded by falling barometer, falling temperature, and southwest wind.
Wind storms by falling barometer, northwest wind veering to southeast, cirro-stratus and cumulo-stratus clouds moving from the southeast. Southeast storms are often preceded by hazy atmosphere in southeast.
Punta Rassa, Fla.
Falling barometer, west or southwest wind, cirrus clouds changing to cirro-stratus with high humidity.
If the change to cirro-stratus occurs rapidly, rain will probably follow within twenty-four hours.
Halos seen on successive nights indicate rain within twenty-four hours. Birds fly about wildly a few hours before a storm occurs, and men-of-war hawks, usually high fliers in clear weather, fly low in contracted circles. Cyclones and tornadoes, are preceded by hazy, slaty, and ominous appearance of sky, atmosphere sultry, wind variable, and generally from east or southeast, clouds bank up in the east, stratus clouds float unusually low and move swiftly, detached inky-looking scuds still lower and swifter.
Rochester, N. Y.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, east or southeast wind, low humidity, and clouds moving from the southwest. A northeast wind backing to northwest or west, or veering to southwest in winter, indicates rain or snow.
Sandy Hook, N. J.
Low and falling barometer, high and rising temperature, hazy atmosphere, with cumulo-stratus clouds moving from the west and southwest, and roaring sea.
San Diego, Cal.
Wind storms are of rare occurrence, and are preceded by warm east wind, with upper clouds moving from the west; oscillating barometer, with downward tendency, several days in advance of disturbance.
San Francisco, Cal.
Rain storms are preceded by falling barometer, low but rising temperature, and west wind. During the rainy season if wind veers to southeast rain follows.
Santa Fé, N. Mex.
Slight fall of barometer and rise of temperature, with cirrus clouds in their various formations, moving from the southwest.
Savannah, Ga.
Barometer above mean and rising slowly for twenty-four hours, remaining nearly stationary for six or eight hours, and then falling slowly, temperature opposite to movement of barometer, cirrus clouds forming near zenith, and moving to northeast.
Shreveport, La.
High and falling barometer, low humidity, and cirrus clouds calm or moving from the west.
Saint Louis, Mo.
Winter storms are preceded by falling barometer, southeast wind, cirro-stratus clouds and haze if temperature is high, and by stratus clouds if it is low. Summer storms, by stationary barometer, temperature above the mean, with cumulus and cirro-stratus clouds, the former in large masses.
Saint Mark’s, Fla.
Barometer rises twenty-four hours before storm, with hazy atmosphere and south wind, the barometer beginning about six hours before storm to fall rapidly with rising temperature, and formation of cumulo-stratus clouds.
The tide rises rapidly.
Saint Paul, Minn.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, low humidity, southeast wind, with cirrus and cirro-stratus clouds.
Squan Beach, N. J.
Falling barometer, rising temperature, and dense haze; cirro-stratus clouds indicate wind and rain.
Toledo, Ohio.
Barometer falling rapidly, rising temperature, low humidity, easterly winds, cirrus clouds in western horizon moving eastward, followed by stratus until sky is obscured.
Tybee Island, Ga.
Northeast storms are preceded by rising barometer, falling temperature, low humidity, light cirrus clouds in bands from northwestto southeast, and moving from north or west, with light to fresh surface wind from the south, and heavy sea swell from the northeast.
Southern storms by falling barometer, rising temperature, high humidity, heavy masses of cumulo-stratus clouds, moving from the southwest, smoky sky, heavy rolling surf, and gentle, variable, and shifting north to east winds.
When the wind backs from northeast to west a gale generally follows.
Vicksburg, Miss.
Slowly falling barometer, high and rising temperature, sky of dull, whitish appearance, resembling haze near horizon; cirrus clouds followed by dense masses of cumulus; wind in light puffs from an easterly direction.
Virginia City, Mont.
Winter storms are preceded by low barometer, falling temperature winds shifting suddenly from some westerly quarter to an easterly one.
Summer storms by falling barometer and temperature, with westerly winds and dense stratus clouds.
Wilmington, N. C.
Southeast storms are preceded by rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, increasing cloudiness and humidity, wind backing to an easterly direction from the southwest or west, and cirro-stratus clouds moving from the west or northwest.
Northeast storms by high and rising barometer, falling temperature, increasing haziness, cirro-stratus clouds moving from the southwest, with light winds veering to the northward and variable.
Southwest storms by falling barometer, high temperature, and fair weather. Thunder-storms by low or falling barometer, unusually high temperature, cumulus clouds in western horizon, wind shifting suddenly from south or southwest to the northward.
1. Sky becoming overcast with cirro-stratus clouds moving from the southwest, west, or northwest.
2. Increasing haziness, especially in the upper atmosphere after a spell of fair weather.
3. Halos and corona.
4. Variable light wind veering and backing frequently, with a tendency to an easterly direction.
5. Sun setting red among threatening clouds or giving the horizon a greenish tinge.
6. Heavy dews in summer.
7. Driving scud, with increasing humidity.
Wood’s Holl, Mass.
Easterly storms are preceded by rapidly rising barometer and temperature, cirrus clouds in early morning moving slowly from the northwest twelve or fourteen hours before approach of storm, and unusually high tides.
Southerly storms by rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, clouds moving rapidly from the southwest, heavy ocean-swell, and tides running stronger, but not as high as before easterly storms.
Westerly storms by falling barometer, clouds moving in all directions, ocean greatly agitated, with low tides.
Sea birds come into harbor six or eight hours before storm arrives, and remain until it is over.
Wytheville, Va.
Slowly falling barometer, rising temperature, east to southeast winds veering to west.
In winter snow storms are preceded by northeast winds, rising temperature, and slow fall of barometer.
Well-defined cirro-cumulus moving from any direction indicate rain.
Yankton, Dak.
Wind storms are preceded by falling barometer, sudden rise of temperature, clouds moving rapidly from the northwest, with southeast surface wind.
If a calm, with high temperature, occurs after a brisk northerly wind for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, a northwest gale may be expected.
Rain storms are preceded by barometric fluctuations, a hazy, ragged-edged, dark cloud, and wind from east to northeast.
The following tables contain the information heretofore published in pamphlet form under the title of “Rain and Dry Winds,” computed for geographical districts.
Table I. Shows the quadrant from which the winds are most likely to be followed by rain or snow.
Table II. Shows the quadrant from which the winds are least likely to be followed by rain or snow.
These tables are computed from all the observations made by this bureau since its establishment to January 1, 1882.
The districts herein referred to are those adopted by this office as shown by the “District Map.” For convenience of reference they are herein described at the foot of each table.
1871 to 1881, INCLUSIVE.
1871 to 1881, INCLUSIVE.
1871 to 1881, INCLUSIVE.
Eastern Gulf States.—Eastern Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwestern Florida.
Lower Lake Region.—Lake Erie and Ontario, with adjacent territory.
Lower Mississippi Valley.—A belt of country, 200 miles broad, from Cairo to Vicksburg. Below Vicksburg the character of the country so changes that it is no longer described as a valley.
Middle Atlantic States.—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia as the Middle States, and that part of those States lying east of the Alleghanies as the Middle Atlantic States.
Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Eastern Colorado, Southern Nebraska, Kansas, northwestern portion of Indian Territory, portion of Northern Texas, also a portion of Northeastern New Mexico.
Middle Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and north of the 37th parallel of latitude.
Middle Plateau District.—Western Colorado, Utah, Nevada, southwestern corner of Wyoming, and the portions of California lying east of the Sierra Nevadas.
Missouri Valley.—A belt of country 200 miles broad, from Fort Sully, Dak., to Jefferson City, Mo.
New England States.—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Northern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Those portions of Montana and Wyoming lying east of the Rocky Mountains, Southwestern Dakota, and Northwestern Nebraska.
North Pacific Region.—Those portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying west of the Cascade range.
Northern Plateau District.—Portion of Western Wyoming, Western Montana, Idaho, and the portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying east of the Cascade range.
Ohio Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cairo, Ill.
Rio Grande Valley.—Southwestern Texas below the junction of the Rio Pecos with the Rio Grande.
South Atlantic States.—North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern and Eastern Florida.
Southeastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Southeastern New Mexico, Central and Western Texas.
South Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and south of the 37th parallel of latitude.
Southern Plateau District.—Western New Mexico, Arizona, and Southeastern California.
Upper Lake Region.—Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, with adjacent country.
Upper Mississippi Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Saint Paul to Cairo. 0Western Gulf States.—Western Louisiana, Western Arkansas, Eastern Texas, Southern Missouri, and southeastern portion of Indian Territory.