Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-12-25

The mean amount of rainfall for three
years is 1877 inches; the mean amount
of temperature for three years is 47o 7V.
The mean amount of temperature at Cape
Flattcry is lower and the precipitation of
rain much greater than at any Of the mc-
neurological stations at Forts Oxford, Van.
couver, Dalles, Stcilacoom or Astoria.
The most rain at any of those points is at
Astoria, where 70 inches is recorded as the
mean for five years, n greater prccipita-
ton Of rain being observed on the imme.
diatc coast than in the interior.
Tho greatest amount Of rain recorded
by me for twenty -fourhours, fell between I
A. NJ. December l6, 1868 and I A. NJ. of the
18th. During that time, 6 go inches of
rain were precipi,a:cd. This deluec of
rain was also experienced further up the
straits, and at Port Angeles caused the
memorable food, which swept away the
Custom House. ta
As the station Of Necah Bay was
tho most westerly of any on the Pacific
coast ut that time, it is interesting to note
some of its peculiaritics. and perhaps ac-
count for the greater rain fall there than
at any other point where records have
been kept in the Territory. a
The peninsula of Cape Flattery pro-
jccts into the Pacific ocean in north
westerly direction. Its northern shores
are washed by the waters of the Strait Of
Fuca, and its western by the Pacific ocean.
During tho prevalence of southcrly winds,
which bring the rains, it is noticed that
the atmospheric currents arc affected by
lands, causing a south or southwest wind
on the coast of the Pacific side, to blow
from the southeast of the straits. This
fact is shown by vessels which, coming
from the southern ports, with fair wind,
till they pass Tatoochc Light, will find the
wind ahead when entering the Strait.
These two winds produce an eddy over
the highland Of the Cape, the same as is
produced at the point Of juncture Of two
swift currents of water, meeting at acute
angles. Thus it is noticed that while the
wind is blowing strongly on the Strait aud
outside Capo Flattery, it will be nearly
calm at Nceah Bay, and tho masses oil
clouds seem to collect aud pile upon the
mountains Of the Cape and discharge their
superabundant water in torrents of rain.
Tho winter of 1864 was remarkably
wet, and, as will be observed by tho table
during the months of October. November
and December Of 1868, aud January, Feb
ruary and March, Of 1864, there fell l05
$40 inches of rain, or nearly nine feet of
water on level, an amount which was
moro than the whole Of the precipitates
during the year 1864 by 2-l0ths of an
inch. 81 ~
Although my reports were published by
the Smithsonian Institute, yet from some
cause I notice that recent writer's on tho
meteorolegy of Washington Territory have
completely ignored them. and give Astoria
as the point where the greatest amount Of
rain falls during the year. have nc
doubt that the number Of cloudy mists
and showery days At Astoria is very great,
but from the causes / have adduced, there
is evidently greater amount OF heavy rain
storms at Cape Flattery. During recent
visit to Sitka, / noticed the great similarity
of the climate between that place and
Capc Flattery. The scenery Of the whole
coast is like that of the American side Of
tho Straits Of Fuca: Snow-capped noun.
tains approaching the coast line, covered
with dense forest growth. The warm
currents from the Chinese and japanese
seas impinging upon our cocst from Sitks
to tho Columbia produces nearly uni
form temperature upon the immediate
shore line. / was not in Sitka long
enough for any extended observation. but
taking the meteorological record Of the
week ending Nov. 9th, kept BY Dr.. Tonner
Surgeon ofthe Post, and comparing it with
my own record at Neeah Bay, OF tho Hrst
week in November in 1862; '6S, 81 and
1855, ] find tho following results: 10 Sit
ka tho mean temperature fVr the@weck wa.