St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-06-11
THE WEATHER IN NEW ENGLAND
FOR MAY.

The weather Tor May, 1881, as
determined by the observers Of the
New England Meteorological society,
was cool, dry and cloudy. Light
cvclonic areas influenced the weather
during the month, only one Of them
being of marked energy, and none
severe with high winds. There were
no strong or rapid high barometric
changes and the pressure remained
near the normal throughout the
month. One of the cyclonic areas
developed over New England and
passed easterly up our coast; one
came up the coast and faded over
New England; one passed easterly
over New England in the form of a
long trough-like depression; four
passed from the lakes to the north of
New England. and one the fifth Of
the Month, and the only one of energy,
coast by one storm from off the
Florida coast and another from over
the Lakes. 1t passed up our coast
on the 16th-17th, giving heavy rains
and thunderstorms on the 10th, and
rain with snow on the 18th, ac-
companied by moderately high
winds.
The temperature for the month
was about one degree below the
normal. The days were generally
warm but the nights were very cool
and the temperature ranges were
strong and we'll marked. The mini
mum temperatures occurred on the
morning of the 9th, while the whole
United States were covered by
large cyclonic area, and frosts oc-
Cured on the 4th, 9Th, 9Th, and 7th.
Low tempera lures with moderate
frosts occurred on the 18th, 18th,
18th and 18th, while on the 10Th
severe frost was experienced through
out New England. Much damage
was done by this ''freeze" to fruit
trees in the southern Connecticut
valley and to early Strawberries in
Massachusetts. Damaging frosts
were also felt on the 23d, Oath,
9th and goth. The maximum tenn
pera lures were generally on the 10th
or 18th. the tempera tures recorded
being over 80 degrees except along
the immediate coast. At Westboro,
Mass, over 90 degrees was recorded
on each of those days. High tenn
peratures occurred also on the 18th,
22d and 31st.
The precipitation was about IA
inches below the normal, the great
est departure being in the South
over pa inches, and the least de-
parture in the North. At Portland,
Me, it was slightly above the normal
and at Lunenburg, VT, only slightly
,-t,,r-a from the
normal was less than would be ex-
pected considering the severe drought
and can be explained by the fact that
nearly all the precipitation fell on
the 10th and Goth. Light rains fell
on the Sd, 10Th and Goth, and in
some localities occasional light
showers on a few other days, but in
general the rain of the 10th was the
only fall of Importance till near the
end of the month. Light snow
squalls occurred on the 9Th and 18th.
On May 1st at about 7.O6 O'Clock
an earthquake was felt in central
New England that in some localities
is reported as the most severe ever
experienced. 1t was the most severe
in northeastern Massachusetts, and
southern New Hampshire, where
houses were shaken, doors and lamps
swung and dishes ratified. 1t is re-
ported that the houses in several
places were so shaken as to cause
their occupants to rush from them
in terror 1t is described as being
one shock followed by rapid vibra-
tons lasting for five or ten seconds.
The month opened with the Spring
several days ahead of the average,
but the cool dry weather and lack
of sunshine has served to so check
vegetation that it is probably now
about the average.