Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-04
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS
TAKEN At THE ALEXANDRIA MUSEUM,
January, 1885.
BY T. NTFoRD.

81; / '.:; ;:: 2 ;: 6: ::' {:
lIle3SI34N to SEIClear, fair
2l35ll6I4llS to SWlPloudy, moderate
320I22II9 N Fair. 9Th snow last nj. in
all ll0l3l NV Clear; 81 zero. Potion fir NO
81 l4ll9| NWto n Clear, fair, cloudy
6lSI262l N Cloudy, clear LIST or moon
III Il7l9I Do Clear; very cold wind
s00Il3l6 Do Clear, fair 81 30 below zero
900Il723l Do Clear; 5 r q below zero
1919 I2425| Do Clear, s 50 above zero
II 1884 81 Do Clear; cd wd ior s days mas,
12Il4I3035| Do Clear; very cold wind
l3I25I3943I Calm HAY, hu: Ice dissolv ouicL
l4I37I4345I Do Fog, clear; rain n. Fum mn
l5I30|3s44l DO lazy, fair, ely. Ice drifting
16I37I4745I Fair and pleasant
17I32I404Il NV Fair and moderate
lSI29I36'37 n Do, bleak wd. CIR fire. 1927
19I2335,37 S Hazy, fair by VIII frost NJ
2OI2sHlI46| n Fair ditto
2lI37I iS,iSI n TO S ely, haZy. rn Last ar mooD
22I3SI46,50I NV CIR; IN & gale n. Navi free
23I3S525l 5 Clear fair hazv, pleasant
24I3O 444l Do Clear, moderate
25I34 4044I NE Cloudy, chilly, damp
2642 50I52 Dense fog, smoky, ely, cir
27Ii052I5l Do Cloudy, fair; at pm57'
2SI4757I54 Sto WIFog, fair. New moon
29I334649lNWto S, Clear, ely; by VIII frost n,
30464650I Calm Dense fog: IN; much I'm n,
3ll39464l lNWtW ,Clr ely IN IN. thun & li'g Int
AT sunrise, 100 below zero; at a. m. 50 do
All other remarks in the calendar OF figures are
above, or at, zero.
Comparative Statement:
Average of this month "a
Range ofthe Thermometer a.
Warmest day the 2Sth &,
Coolest day the 9Th below Zero.
During the month, clear days.
January. 1884:
Range of the Thermometer So
Warmest day, the 18th 62
Coolest day, the 7th g.
During the month, 6 clear days.
NorE.-This month has been remarkable for
the coolest weather hitherto known in our lati {
tude for ten days in succession. On Monday
the 5th. the Thermometer, al sunrise stood 10 (
deg below zero, and on the same morning, at s.
o'clock was deg. below zero; ana rose no =
higher than 10 deg above zero during the day z
On Friday, the Cd, there was no ice in the Pc
tomac, except in the docks and on the margt
of the river; and there was not on that eve
ming, The slightest proba biIity OF a sudden
freeze, as the Thermometer ranged from IS 10
Al deg throughout the day, attended by mild
Southerly wind. But in The course Of the night
the wind turned to the North; about one Incl
of snow fell, and by daylight on Saturday morn.
ing the river was completely flozen over as
far as the eve could trace its passage, in ever
direction.
instantaneous must have been the effects o.
the cold on the water-as several vessels, from
ten TO fifty miles below town, were caught mid
way the channel where they remained, until
dissolution of the ice took place The ice ID
the channel, opposite town, was between fOu
and five inches thick, and on The flats from 81
to seven inches, and very firm and flinty.
And if so speedy and effectual a stoppageak
navigation is singulary remarkable, not lesss
is the sudden yet easy manner in which, wlDk
out the least damage to wharves or vessels thik
great body of ice disappeared.
The extreme cold ended on the 18th, and q
the 14th the ice was drifting, in rotten cont
ton crumbling to pieces as il moved along. 81
the 2 lst, there was none to obstruct the passagi
of the smallest boat and on the 22d, numD
of vessels arrived s )me Of them inland naviga'
tors others from the ocean. Now mark ht
difference between this winter and that
last year.-Last winter, the coolest day vase Al
the 18th January, when the Thermometer sO0
deg. above zero: the ice which formed |" ue
river was three inches thick, and when it broh
up, it did immense damage to such shirpngaE
were exposed to its ravages. This winter, TX
coolest day was on the 9Th OF January Vbs
the Thermometer stood 10 deg below zero
So that the weather has been 10 deg. coderi1s
winter than it was the last. The ice was cor
siderably stouter, and when il broke up, il pas
ed of. without doing injury to any thing Oh
tide water, according to accounts which have
been received. In conclusion, | shall only %
serve, that never, at any previous time knew
such severely cold weather.
Good health prevails in Alexandra and Is
vicinity.
Museum, January 81. 1885.
DRAWS -.HORROU