St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-24
THE STUDY OF STORMS.
What the Weather Department
Finds as to Thunder.

WASHINGTON, July 23.-DeSlring to
have practical study of thunder storms
made during the summer of 1892, to de-
termine the feasibility Of making thun-
der storm forecasts, and to obtain a
better knowledge of their character
istics, Prof. Harrington, chief Of the
weather bureau, began pre- parations in
April of that year for systematic work
in this line by issuing circular 10
selected stations, together with supply
of record cards, upon which reports Of
storms in the respective localities should
be made.
The data have been compiled from a
large number of these reports, and have
been condensed from separate state
charts into one general chart, and a
bulletin based thereon has been pub
lished. In regard to heat thunder
storms, the bulletin says, it is found
| that two distinct thunder storm belts
may traverse the same territory, but
| that the second storm does not appear
| to hold its force to the same extent after
| 1t reaches the territory which has been
| covered by previous storm on the same
| date. This is we'll defined in the thun-
| der storm belt of June 6. While there
| is no Infallible rule to be laid down for
fOrecaSting thunder storms from the
daily weather charts, yet certain con-
ditiOns Indicate the development of
thunder storm belt, which generally
follows during the season. Nearly 80
per cent of the thunder storms occurred
in the belt covered by the isobar of
thirty inches, and at or near the
isotherm of 70 degrees. In heated
terms thunder showers may be looked
for along the line of change in pressure
(3O01 inches) and where the tempera-
ature during the afternoon continues
high. These storms are more liable to
occur the day after the maximum heat
has passed.
Robert De 6. Ward, of Harvard uni
versity, made the report of the investi-
CATION of thunder storms in New Eng
land. He says that the data for one
summer are too few to give any reliable
average. A few general facts, how
ever. were noted. The majority of
thunder storms in New England had
their origin outside of the district, and
came to it ready-made from the west.
They were mostly large disturbances.
covering a wide area, in several cases
200 or 800 miles, and moved in a sys-
tematic way III an easterly direction.
Charles NJ. Strong, the observer of the
weather bureau at Columbus, o., in his
report on thunder storms III Ohio IN
June. July and August, says that storms
appearing over the northwest portion
of the state either moved northeast over
the counties adjoining the lake or took
a southery trend to the southwark of
the northern watershed over the Scioto
and Muskingum valleys, and passed
southeasterly into West Virginia. Forty
six per cent moved to the southwark, 25
per cent to the northeast ana 30 per
cent to the east. Prof. Harrington says
he is of the opinion that the time has
not yet come for more definite forecasts
than are given at present.
A bank Libeled.
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The state
ment made public yesterday that the
| Fir st National bank, of Vernon, Tex,
had failed proves to be erroneous. The
First National bank, of Russell, Kan,