Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-05-02
MARCH 1885.
BY !. B. Alexander, M. ID.

BYJ. Il. Alexander, M. d.
March has been clear, cold and ex-
ceedingly dry month.
Temperature. Its mean temperature
was Sc g, which is degrees below the
average of this month during the last
eight years, aud this low temperature,
during this period was exceeded only
twice, viz: in 1881 and 1888. when the
means were 49, and 36.2 respectively.
With the assistance of DR.. Engelman's
St. Louis record it is found that during
the last 4s years, March has been as
cold or colder IA times. The coolest
March during that period was that of
1s43, when the mean temperature was
27 4, which is greatly below the nor
NAL ST Louis January. The highest
temperature was 60 on the 3lst, and
the lowest was IL. 0 on the 18th. Dur
ing the eight years of exact observation
in Lexington, zero has not been reach
ed; but there is reason to believe that
previous to that time, this point and
even lower temperature has been at
tanned. The coolest week was from
the 10th TO the 22nd, with u daily mean
OF 26. g degrees; the coolest day was
the 18th with mean of 1875; the
warmest week was 9th to 10Th, mean
temperature, 43.9 (the mean tempera-
ture of the week, 25th to 3lst, however,
was 43.S), and the warmest day was
the 3lst, mean temperature, 53.5. In
1879 the mercury rose above 80 twice
in March. There were 3 days above
60, the average number being g.; 16
days above so, the average being 16;
and % above 40, the average being "a.
There were % days (nights) when the
mercury fell below 80, the average be-
ing IA; and there were days when it
failed to rise above 81 throughout the
day, this number being the usual aver
age.
March was thus cold month, and it
"falls into ne" with the conclusions
arrived at in recent issue of this
paper, as to the great likelihood of a
cold March after cold winter.
Rain. The entire rainfall, including
rain and snow, was O.42 Qess than hall
an inch), which is 1.29 inches less than
the average. Either rain or snow fell
OIL different days, less than the
average. On three other days there
fell rain or snow in quantities too small
to be measured. There was one thun-
der storm, one moderate sleet and nt
hail.
The drouth lasted from Feb. 25th tt
March 2Sth, period of 81 days, dur
ing which time O.16 inch (about II
of an inch) Of rain fell. The eartl
however, did not become very dry, tor
although the rainfall of the winter wa
below the average, the earth was KEEP
throughout thoroughly moist by bein
almost continuously covered by snoy
or sleet, 80 that evaporation was pre-
vented, and during this moderat
drouth the earth was quite moist, ofte
too much so to be plOwed, but not S
wet as to give deep mud when tn
thaw at the close of winter came.
Snow. Only one snow, ID inche
in depth fell on the night Of the I'll
On two other days very slight snow
fell.
d Sky. The mean cloudiness of III
a month was 80. The normal averag
being 4.S. 1t was the brightest Marc
i of the eight recorded, except that {
Z. 1879, which was equal to it. Thel
were l2 clear days, 10 being the ave
!; age; there were 3 cloudy days, b.
ing the average; and l6 partial
Is cloudy. There was not single day
!. the month without sunshine, wher
as the average number is 2.
Id Wind. The prevalent winds we
ne southwest 20 times; north, 10 time
70 west, IS times, and northeast IL time
!, The northerly winds preponderate
over the sOutherly in the proportion
~ SS to 80. No storm occurred duril
!" the month, but there was high viii
H. on the 18th, and again on the night
the Goth. The occurrence of this his
wind at the equinox lends color to Il
belief that there are "equinocti
n, storms" but an investigation of IL
question, which was given to the pu
lie, established the fact that storm
occur at or near the equinoxes with
th more frequency than any other day
er the year.
River. The Missouri river, whi
blocked Dec. 20, opened March 1, t
" duration OF closure being IS da,
r. which is greatly above the avera
time. The river did not rid itself
ice until the 9th, owing to the gorge
=, the vicinity OF Waverly, giving /
also TO very high water ut this poil
10 sufficient 10 submerge the lowest bC
toms. The rise was only feet |,
than the great rise of 1881.
Migration of Birds. The buzza
al returned on the oath, and the mart
OH the 3lst.
The maple bloomed on the 18th.
III THE LAST EIGHT MARCHES.