Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-01-14
THE STORMS.
Also Some Interesting Facts
Regarding Storms in
Previous Winters.


Previous Winters.
The q. S. Signal Office in this city
furnishes US with the following account
of the late storms, and some facts con-
corning the notable storms since the es-
tablishment of the signal Office:
The two storms which have visited
Dodge since the New Year have COM
plctely overshadowed any previous rec
ord, and a short description Of them
may not be devoid of interest.
The first storm began about noon on
January LIST and continued until A. NJ.
on the Sd. The wind played an i'm
portant part. It reached velocity of
81 miles an hour from the north. but
the temperature throughout was, COM
paratively speaking, agreeable,-loweat
temperature being II degrees above
zero. The amount of snow fall was
seven and one-half inches.
Toward midnight of the 9th the
heavens assumed a most threatening
aspect and by the following morning
one of the most violent storms possible
was upon US in all it's force.
The amount of snow was only
about two inches; but the temperature
was l67 below zero, and the wind
had attained velocity of A miles per
hour from the north. The average
temperature during the storm was
about II degrees below zero, lower by
far than any previous record; and the
total movement of the wind from II
o'clock P. NJ. Of the 9th to A. NJ. Of
the Sth was SSS miles.
During the entire storm the atmos-
phere was highly charged with electric
ity. It seemed much like the atmos-
pheric electricity that accompanies au-
roreal displays. 1t is not known wheth-
er or not an aurora prevailed at the
time as the sky was obscured before
and during the continuance of the
storm So strong was this atmospher-
ic electricity that messages were sent
between this office and Fl. Supply
without any battery.
The cold wave was anticipated by the
Chief Signal Office, and notification
sent the observer on the afternoon of
the 9th, but on account of the condi-
ton of the telegraph service it did not
reach the observer until everything
was over. The prediction, however,
was fully justified. The temperature
at time of ordering up signal was 19@
above zero. The lowest temperature
during the display was 16 degrees be-
low zero. The fall was therefore 35
degrees. Had the notification reached
us, the public would have been warned
about twenty-four hours before the be-
ginning Of the storm. Below is table
showing low temperature, and also list
of severe storms for the past ten years.
None appears during which there was,
all at the same time, severe snow
storm. very low temperature and high
wind.
List of days on which the most mark
ed storms occurred during the winter
seasons of the years since the estab-
lishment of the local signal Office.
During the winters of 1919 and
1856 high winds and low tempera-
ture were frequent but accompanied
by an inconsiderable amount Of
snow fall
February 10Th, 18s2-snow storm
and brisk wind, but temperature about
10 degrees above zero.
January 1Sth-19th, 1So3-Moderate
snow storm with high wind and very
low temperature. This storm seems
to be the only one on record which can
compare to the one we have just expe-
rienced.
New Year day, 1885, the temper
ature was down to Is degrees below
zero, with clear weather and light wind.
Table Of minimum temperature as
recorded by signal Office observer at
this city from 1875 to 1856: