North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-02-15
HOW STORMS ARE MADE. AND HOW
WE MAY ALL BE WEATHERWISE,

The constant succession Of storm and sun
shine existing between the Rocky mountains
and, the Atlantic seaboard, is subject of much
interest to all persons engaged in agricultural
pursuits. A few hints, and the statement of
a few facts, may afford some light, and re-
move many existing errors in reference to
the atmospheric changes. commonly called
the weather. All the changes which take
place in the animal and vegetable kingdoms
result, in connection with the atm osphere
under the direct or indirect agency of the
sunlight. Rain is one of these results. The
action of the sunlight produces the great
atmospheric currents which exist in different
sections of the globe. The trade winds pass
from the tropical regions over the Caribbean
sea and tho Gulf Of Mexico ipto higher lati-
tudes, moving within the tropics from south
east to northwest, and after passing the trop-
les from southwest to northeast, and in high
er intitudes from west to east so that there
exists constant current over the eastern
portion of the North American con tnent
sweeping around over the western portion of
the eastern continent, and there back within
the tropics.
At some point within this vast aerial
whirlpool there is always existing a storm
The warm air from the southwest commIn-
Cling with the colder air of higher ATTITUDES
condense and forms clouds and storms In
the progress Of these currents the action Of
the sunlight produces vacuum, which is the
actual cause Of the storm. The existence Of
this vacuum is indicated by the fall of the
mercury in the barometer but more certainly
by the wind. So soon as the vacuum begins
to exist, the air from all sides tresses in to
restore the equilibrium. The combining Of
these currents condense the vapor, clouds
exist, aud the ordinary phenomena of the
storm. When the equilibrium is restored
the storm ceases. The wind is invariably
blowing towards the approaching, or follow,
ing the recedng storm. The direct motion
of the storm is usually from southwest to
northeast, but it has also a lateral move.
ment from the northwest, and to the south
east, and this results from the greater pres
sure of the northwest current, is acting on
the outer margin of the air of the circle
The wind from the east, southeast, and
south indicates the coming storm, and some
times the northeast wind. The southwest
nd
dicate receding storm. 1t ordinarily
requires from 20 to 43 hours for storm to
pass from Cairo to New York. So soon as
the equilibrium of the atmosphere is restored
the storm ceases !; so that a storm at Cairo
might cease before it would reach New York.
The intensity ofthe cold after any given
storm depends upon two facts. If another
storm is approaching from the southwest, so
as to counterbalapce the receding Storm the
cold will not be intense. If the lateral mo-
ton of the storm should be greater than the
direct motion, the cold will be very intense
over the path Of that storm. This was the
case Of the great storm of December 81, 1861
in its lateral movement, it reached Atlanta.
Georgia, before the direct movement reached
Philadelphia; hence it was colder at Mem
phis, Nashville, and Atlanta, than at Mon,
treal.
| have stated these facts from very many
observations, some of which I may give you,
If these remarks are thought worthy of your
notice. If the daily press would give the
state of the weather every morning, as it ex
lists in the Southwest and West, the farmer
with the aid of the barometer, and noticing
the course of the wind, would not have to
look for the weather in the almanac or the
moon.