Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-03-28
THE WINTER OF l584-5.

Tempera;ure-Thc mean temperature OF
the winter Just closed, vas Ia, which Is 30
degrees below the average of the last eight
winters. 1t YVES not only the coolest OF these
eight winters, but, guided by a comparison
with Engelman's records Ut ST. LOUIS, 1t was
the coolest of IS winters, viz: from 1897 TO
the present time. The winter OF lSoo-6 ap-
preached it more nearly than any other, Dut
tie mean temperature OF the past winter ex-
ceedei thst OF the wint err of 1S55.G by more
than ! degree. December was cold but yet
we have had, in 45 years, II Eecembers that
were colder. January has been colder twice
in the same period, and February once. The
highest temperature was $50 degrees on
December 4; the lowest was 10 degrees be-
low zero on the 10th of February. January
was the coolest month, the mean tempera-
lures OF the three months being, respectively,
2t.0, 15.2 and l6.9. The coolest week was
January 10 to 30, with an average daily mean
of IA degrees below zero. The coolest day
was the 10th of Feb, with a mean temPera-
ture of s.s degrees below zero. The mercury
rose above 80 degrees only 4 times during the
winter, being II less than the average num-
Der; it was above 40 degrees only 20 times,
Is less than the average. It fell below "
degrees IS times, which is 8 more than the
average, which leaves only II nights IN the
whole winter above freezing point. 1t failed
to rise above 81 during the day, Do times,
which is Fl more than the average. 1t sank
to zero and below it, 81 times, which Is more
than 8 times the average; and 1t remained be-
lnr- oil l,- a firnoo which ia nno mora
than the average. The latest date Of q zero
temperature was the 2lst of February, but in
former years a zero temperature has been
observed Oh the 18th of that month.
The depth Of freezing of the ground has not
been over one foot, the protection of the snow
preventing its extension deeper.
The low temperatures, of February were
destructive of peach buds and other tender
fruits.
Rain-The entire rainfall, including melted
snow, was 5.1l inches, which is slightly be-
low the average amount. Either rain or snow,
OF both, in measurable quantities fell on 81
days, 2S being the average number. There
was only one hunde storm, which occurred
Dec. B.
Snow-The entire depth of snow was IS
inches. OF this amount st inches fell in Dec;
liz inches fell in January and Is inches in
February. Snow fell on y days in measura-
BILE quantities, and in smaller quantities or 7
otherdays. Thu ground was covered with snow
IS days; 16 days III Dec, Is in JAN, and "a in
Feb. No intensely cold weather occurred
with the ground bare. At the close of Feb
ruary the snow had all disappeared.
Face of the Sky-The mean cloudiness Of
the winter was 90, (which Is slightly below the
average. The clear days amounted to %,
which is two less than the average; the cloudy
days were q, which is three less than the
average, and the days without sunshine were
20, being three more than the average.
Winds-The most prevalent winds were:
north, 81 times; southwest, AZ times; south,
Al times; northwest, 90 times. The norther-
ly winds outnumbered the southerly winds
In the proportion Of 119 to sc.
The Missouri river was still closed on the
last day Of February.
THE LAST EIGTH VYNTERS