The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-20
THE WEATHER.
Local Signs OF Rain.


correspondence invited. suggestions desired.
and Indignation checTfully furnished. Every CT
fort employed tn make this Bureau Of practical use
To the readers OF THE SATiuNAL TRIBUNE. All
communications should be- addressed Heather
THE NATIONAL TRunusE Office. Washington. y. Ci
Unusual clearness Of the atmosphere, objects
being seen very clearly, indicates rain. Under
such circumstances the air is usually free of
moisture, the velocity Of movement Is small
and wind direction steady. with tendency to
shift 10 southerly. This clearness IL especially
noticeable as the westerly winds diminish in
velocity, showing the decline Of the high area.
That is. the center Of the high has just passed
your station aud rs low follows "a high the
former must soon be expected and sends It's
harbinger in advance. The sign Is Il simple
one, but well founded, and this may be said of
most of the rain signs that have become trite
sayings In every community These signs
can be employed with safety and success II
pains arc taken to investigate their mode Of
development aud get at the nature and extent
OF the essential truth which forms the basis Of
their construction.
Rain from the south prevents the drouth,
| but rain from the west Is always best.
| Rain from the west Is preferable, because its
| duration is short and the amount that falls Is
| generally sufficient for plant growth. Rain
| from the south is heavy aud long continued,
| because the wind must change 20 the west
|
| the weather will clear. This condition Is dc
termned by the position of the center OF the
| low relative % the station where the observa-
| ton Is made. If the position Of the station is
| such regarding the l0W that the storm sets in
| with q southeast wind then "a long, heavy storm
may be expected.
Plenty of rain IN October and November on
the North Pacific coast indicates mild Win
| ter Little rain IN these months will be fol-
lowed by n severe Winter,
Rain which sets In with south wind OH the
| North Pacific coast will probably last.
The south rain brings with IL the beautiful
| odor Of the land Of everlasting Summer and
| brgbtens the leaves Of growing things. prov
! erb by Zuni lndans.)
| Rain from the northeast continues three days
| This is explaned by saying that before the pre-.
| eipitation can cease the wind must veer through
| the south 10 the west, which generally requires
| considerable time.
With the rain Of the northeast comes the ice
fruit (hai). tZuni Indians. If rain begins
with northeast wind aud the latter shifts, or
rather backs through the north point to the
west cold air will be brought southwark be-
fore the center Of the low has passed, aud
| mingling with the warm air from the south,
| will give rise 10 conditions Of vapor cOndensa-
ton which may Lead 10 the formation of hail.
Rain in September Is good for the farmer but
| poison 10 the vine growers. tGeTmau.) For
the farmer IL sofLcns the land for Fall blowing,
but for the yDe-dresscr II rots the fruit or pre-
vents its ripening
With the north wind rain leaves the harvest.
| If il rains before sunrise expect fair after
noon.
When rain squalls break to the westward it
is a sign OF foul weather. When they break
TO the leeward it is sign of fair weather.
This Is a question of the position of the low as
it approaches and passes the station OF the OBJ
server.
la all attempts at local forccasting the OBJ
server must bear in mind that all atmospheric
disturbances move from 'oest TO cast under the
influence of the general easterly trend of the
atmosphere, aud that much depends on the
knowledge of the observer as 10 his location
regarding the relative position of the center OF
| the disturbance at the time the forecast Is made