Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-11
KANSAS WEATHER.
Some Interesting Features Concerning
the Rainfall and Temperatures
Weather Crop Bulletin.

|
Prof. F. II. Snow, of the University Of
Kansas. has compiled table of stats
tics for two years disclosing some inter
estlng features of the rainfall of eastern
Kansas, which it will be appropriate te
mention in connection with the rain Of
the past two days in this city:
One feature consists of the fact tina,
only about one-ninth of the annual pre-
cipitation occurs in the winter months
In the eastern states the amount of rain
including melted snow, is nearly as
large in winter as in each of the othe,
seasons. In Kansas, which has less rain
III winter than any state in the union ex-
cept Minnesota and Nebraska, the appar-
ent deficiency is abundantly made good
by more copious supply
OF rain in spring, summer
and autumn than is received by many
OF the other states.
The distribution Of rain through the
months of the year is highly conducive
to agricultural prosperity. Beginning
with January, in which the average
precipitation is reduced to its minimum,
there is constant increase in the aver
age for each month until June and July,
when the rainfall reaches its maximum
and begins to decline, each succeeding
month showing decrease in the average
| amount until the minimum is again
reached in January. 1t is rarely the case
that the monthly rainfall during the
growing season departs from the normal
to such an extent as to seriously injure
the staple crops.
During twenty-one years of observa-
ton there has ceen only one drouth ex-
tending over the entire state of Kansas.
This was in the year 1874, since which
time there have been but two partial crop
failures of anything more than a local
| character
This table also indicates the existence
! of rainfall cycle of about seven years
OF precipitation above the average and
similar series Of years of precipitation
! below the average. Thus the years 1868
-1S70, 1876-1S7S, and 18S3-1SS5 ex-
hlbit an excess of rain, while the inter-
venlng periods exhibit deficiency.
KANSAS SEASONS.
In another table, also covering the OBJ
servatlOnS of a period of twenty-one
years, Prof. Snow demonstrates that the
ihOiititIy IClil pei dttilS are SuDjtCJ W
considerable variation, Thus March ard
November have in one or two instances
been winter months, while May and
September are occasionally summer
months. The second half of May and
the first half of September frequently
belong to the summer season. The mean
annual temperature is little less than
% degrees, which does not differ essen
al i- hot Of 10 h.
Kansas in the same latitude.
In their effect upon the population the
summers of Kansas are less oppressive
and exhausting than might be inferred
from their frequent length and high
temperature. Of the twenty-one SUM-
mers which have come under observa-
ito , thir teen have been of medium tenn
perature, four have been very hot and
four very cool. The medium summers
are comfortable, the cool summers are
delightful, and there are important
compensations by which the hot sum-
mers are rendered far more tolerable
than those of states to the east of Kansas
between the same parallels of latitude.
Among these compensations are the gen
eral GOODNESS of the nights, no matter
how hot the days may be; the unusual
III HcSS VI Tic WIllCll COOlS
the surface of the body by more rapid
evaporation of the perspiration; and the
almost constant brisk movement of the
air, which rarely becomes calm.
The autumns of Kansas furnish the
most enjoyable weather of the year, the
mild Indian summer frequently continu-
ing until nearly Christmas.
The winters of Kansas have enough
rigor to protect the population from the
chronic languor too often engendered by
a southern climate. Without the ex-
IRENE severity which benumbs the !
faculties, the winter temperature is
sufficiently low to impart that healthful |
stimulus to mental and physical activity !
which seems essential to the highest de- |
velOpment of the human race.
OF the twenty-One winters whose |
records are before US, twelve have been |
of moderate temperature, with mean |
between 90 and 80 degrees: five have |
been severe, with mean below % de-
grees, in one winter QS14-5) reaching |
%. 20 degrees: and four have been ex- !
ceedingly mild, with mean above 30 !
degrees, in one winter 0S77-S) reaching
SO. 81 degrees. The winters generally |
break up in February, the first wild
flowers often appearing before the end
of the month.
CROP BULLETIN.
T. B. Jennings, signal corps assistant
of the Kansas weather service which CO.