Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-04
Missouri Weather Service.
STATION 30. LEXINGTON.

1t may be proper to explain that for conven-
fence some things are inserted in the average
column. that are not averages. for example, the
hig hest and lowest temperature. these being the
highest and lowest temperatures observed in
April during 43 years, and the years of such &C.
currences are given.
April was u bright, warm, pleasant and not
very wet month. Its mean temperature WAS
s. "a, exceeding. by more than two degrees, the
average. The April Of 1861 and of 1866 were equally
AS warm as the month just passed. and that Of
1871. hud the extraordinary mean temperature
OF g. %.
We had no excessively hot days in April. the
highest temperature on the 18th and also on the
2lst, reaching 81 So, which is often Witnessed IN
this month. 1t will be observed that it rose as
high rs go in ISIS. '43 and '55 The temperature
was only three times above 10" In the month; 1t
WAS below s0e and ubo We ~. thirteen times, and
below 70s but abov. 60 ten times.
The lowest temperature Was on the ith, when
the Thermometer stood 80 above freezing, and yet
white frosts were noted in some localities five
times. viz on the LIST, 4th. 9Th. 2jtn aud eth.
causing no damage. however, 10 the fruit. A
slight formation of Ice was observed on the
morning oil the eth. The thermometer fell be-
low AZ only 4 times during the whole month.
The lowest temperature observed In April during
43 years was lss ~ below ireezIng) in ls57.
Among the AprIis remarkable for ''cold snap.,''
doing more or less damage to vegetation, may
be mentioned those of 1867 -s-9-70-l- +-;-7.
The clouiiness OF the past month was less than
normal. We had Is Clear days. ii being the sy-
erage; we had ; days without sunshine, 4 being
the average. and 10 partially cloudy while u l.
the usual number. The principal winds were
W.. next S next N, then +. Southeast wind=
which hold second rank as TO frequency, were
not often noted. No storms occurred; the wind
never exceeding what is d.signated II ''higt
wind,'' and this is reported : times in 30 Oh.
servatiOns.
The rainfall WAS slightly below the average,
but II WAS not evenly distributed through tn,
month. During the first ten days 81 inchc.
fell. during the second ! g inches. and during
the last only OF inches, making III all , ~,
while 3 = Is the normal amount for this month
Two hailstorms are recorded, the latter on til,
night OF the 18th DID no little damage TO fruit
The hail was abundant, and the largest spcci
men obtained measured an inch and a half II
the longest diameter.
ThunderstOrms We're more numerous than l.
usual, since We had two more than the average
The largest amount of rain falling in April sine
ls39 was upwards OF Z inches III 1850 and 1851
The smallest amount was onc-fourth Of one incl
in 1871.
Wheat began to Joint about the LIST; lila
and early apples bloome'l on the 9th; seed stalk
OF blue grass were observed on the 18th; ry
headed out about the same time; wheat began Il
head on the 20ih; black locust bloomed on III
24th. and ripe strawberries were picked on III,
goth.
The house wren returned TO this locality o
:he night of the 2Uih, and the cat-bird with 9th,
varieties OF the thrush family on the 9Th.
1t would be we'll for farmers to note the fac
that much Of the wheat has headed cxce,diusI
low, So as 10 observe in the future if the peculia
winter and spring We have had could have ha
any agency in its production.
/ j. b. ALEXANDER, Observer.