The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-06
THE WEATHER FOR MAY.
An Exceptional Month in the History
OF the Signal Service.

OF the Signal Service.
The monthly review Of the weather for
May this year as furnished by Signal Officer
Won Hermann, in charge Of the Savannah
station, shows plainly that it was an ex-
ceptionally dry month as compared with
the corresponding month for the last
eigteen years.
The cause of this is clearly due TO the
fact that all the storms developed in the
United States during the month, except
two, passed too far north of Savannah to
bring any rain here. OF these two storms
the first originated in Texas on April %
and moved eastward TO Georgia on May /.
The depression of the barometer was very
slight, the lowest reading at the center be-
ing only 80 "a inches, and this station only
got little shower, amounting to 10 OF an
inch, on May 1.
The second storm also originated in
Texas May "a, and moved in a direction
north Of east into Eastern Tennessee on the
S0th, increasing in intensity. The lowest
barometer reading was %. 90 inches. This
storm brought, on the Both, the rain which
was so much needed here. The amount, how
ever, only .25 Of an inch, was too small to be
of much benefit to the farmers. Except slight
traces on the 10Th and 28th Savannah did
not get drop Of rain between the LIST and
the Both.
1t will be seen that the total rainfall at
Savannah for May 1889, which was .35 of
an inch, is less than that recorded
for any May since 1870.
The precipitation was 269 inches below
the average for May for sixteen years. 1t
is quite likely, however, that the larger
part Of the state, especially the western and
northern portions, had plenty of rain.
Townsville reported q total of LEG inches,
Millen 2 "a inches, Albany 2 10. Bainbridge
Liz, Fort Gaines 2. %, Smithville q 05 inches.
The summary also shows some interesting
facts in regard to the temperature during
the month. The first week was cool.
The lowest temperature for the
month, so, occurred on the 9Th and 9th.
Only once before since 1871 has lower
minimum than this been recorded,
and that occurred May 2,
1877, when tho Thermometer fell to 4Se.
On the 9TH the temperature began TO rise
rapidly and reached maximum Of So on
the 18th. The only temperature higher than
this previously recorded for May was 9S'
on May 25, 1873.
Such comparisons of one month with the
weather of previous years are always
valuable and interesting, because they
enable one to determine whether the climate
of any particular locality is undergoing
material change. For this purpose. how
ever, the records should extend back at
least twenty or thirty years. A careful ex-
animation OF the records reveals the fact that
in no previous year did the maximum tenn
perature in May exceed 90 so often as in
this year. In May, $50, the maximum
temperature was above 90 six times; in
May '7S and '86 it was above 90 only four
times; in all other years from n to $50
only once or twice above 90.
There were only three moderate
thunderstorms during the month.
on the 1st, 9th, and 3Oth'
Thunderstorms generally only being local
showers, but often they are frequent and
heavy enough to supply the place of gem
eral rain. But during the past month the
most essential condition for producing
thunderstorms-abu moisture-was
conspicuously absent.
The following is the official record: