The record-union., 1892-05-05
WARNING TO FRUIT GROWERS.
There are Weather indications None
Too Encouraging.
Director Barwick of the Weather Bu-
reau Sounds Note of Warning
to the Grape Growers.

to the Grape-Growers.
The Weather Bureau reports show the
rainfall yesterday to have been .0S of an
inch, making for this season 1925 inches,
as against ISL inches to an equal date last
year.
The present storm is purely Califor-
mia one-that is, it reached California di-
rect from the ocean, south of Santa Bar
bara, and produced an appreclable pre-
cipitation diagonally across the State
from Santa Cruz northeastward leaving
San Francisco and Eureka on the out
side. The greatest precipitation occurred
In Southern California and in the south
ern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which
is exactly where it was needed, as the
crop reports for the week ending last
Saturday showed. Were it not for the
present copious rains in the northern
end Of Santa Barbara County and
throughout San Luis Obispo and Monte
rey Counties, also including the southern
counties of the San Joaquin Valley. there
would have been much more grain cut
for hay than there will now be.
AT the same time our neighbors to the
north of us-those in Central and South
ern Oregon-were baSking in CloudlesS
! Though cold skies, for frost was reported
yesterday over Southern Oregon. 1t may
be that the present rising barometer, with
gentle westerly winds, may watt the
present storm rapidly nOrtheaStward,
| and in its wake may come chilly morn
lngS, with damaging frOStS. to Northern
and Central California.
1t therefore behooves the fruit and
grape producers to be on the lookout for
the next few days, until a warmer and
more Spring-like wave makes its appear
ance over the Pacific Coast; for, if
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,
then eternal and continued Watchfulness
at present will result in keeping General
Jack Frost from blackenIng and damag-
ing the fruit and grape product of the
present season. 1t should be remembered
that on May 7, 1887, we were wOfully
robbed by nipping frosts. That frost
was not preceded by any storm whatever,
as no rain fell in that month, except
sprinkle on the 9Th. Nevertheless, my
advice to the grape and fruitmen is to be
prepared for any emergency for the next
few days.
The average temperature yesterday was
81, while the normal, or usual, average
temperature for the 4th of May is 63o,
making yesterday l20 colder than the
average.
The highest and lowest temperatures
on the same date last year.
The barOmetrical readings at \. NJ and
. p. NJ. yesterday were 29.S6 and 30.01
| inches, showing a rapid rise, which
should indicate clearing and cooler
weather, with frost prospects.
WHAT LIEUTENANT FINLEY SAYS.
''Ore of the most important features
about May weather" remarked Lieuten-
ant Finley of the United States Weather
J low trNn
porter, sis that such rain as falls during
the month usually comes down at night.
The same thing, however, may be said
Of all the months up to October, begin
ming, though, with May.
"A popularity of this month"; however,
which may be said to be in manner dis
tinctiye, is that such rain as we have al
most always falls before the middle of
the month. 1t is very rarely indeed that
we have any afterward here in this city.''
Lieutenant Finley then looked over the
records Of San Francisco'S rainfall during
all the years since 1871, with the result Of
tnding very strong confirmatory evil
dence Of his statement. In fact there
were but three instances where any rain
fell during May after the 18th, and in
these, as will be shown, the deviation
! from the rule was very slight. For in
stance, in May, 1879, which was remark
able Tor an unusually heavy downpOur,
this occurred between the 18th and 18th
not much later than the middle of the
| month after all. Again in May, 1888 1t
| ralncd every day or two up to the 17th
! but no later though 2.67 inches fell be-
| tween the 4th and 9th. In Nav, 1889, the
| last rain fell on the 10th.
| These were, as stated. the only devia-
! ton from the rule in period Of twenty
! years, though it may be noted also that in
May, 1887, there was no rain at ALL
There was no rain after May l3, 1850,
until October lst, and III 1890 all the rain
of the month fell before the llth
What | have said about MAY rains oc-
| curing at night,'' said Lieutenant Fin
! ley, ''refers to San Francisco and not to
the interior valleys. There the rule does
not apply, as there is more aScensional
! atmospheric action there, owing to the
| more pronounced variations in tempera-
! ture, which cause more rapid condensa-
! ton of VapOrs and more frequent precipi-
! tation. On the coast, where we feel the In
! tluence Of the sea, the temperature is
much more equable. When we are to
have rain here in San Francisco there
will be cloudy days, but the water will
/ wait until nightfall before coming down.
! a very convenient arrangement, by the
way, for both business men and picnick-
| erS.'
The Lieutenant was scarcely inclined to
| look for any severe weather during the
present month, though it could not be
| positively said that there might not be.
! The present atmospheric disturbances
! which were left over from April, NAV be
over with by the end of the week, and it
would still be possible for another dis
| turbance to 'materialize" before the mid
die Of the month.