Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-07

be-, found a METEOROLOGICAL author
does not attempt description of 4
phase" =, ..
were often known TO develop and become
very severe In a few hours. In reply
he stated that while it was not gen
cral thing for storms TO develop SO sud
denly, yet such storms are often met
with In meteorological work zSuch u storm
developed In Texas May 81, lS92. At
= a. m. tire We're no signs of storm,
aud even up TO noon none were visible,
while about p. IN. n few scattered sta
tons reported thunder storms aud the
number of stations reporting increased as
night approached, and ut p. M. the
weather map showed well-dehned
crossed the state 10y midnight showing
evidence Of great intensity. A great
deal of damage was done in its path,
houses blown down, trees uprooted, peo-
pie killed and crops suffered materially.
Such cases are not the rule, but we
have them.
When asked II the weather bureau
would ever be able 10 forecast storms
which develop such severity IN so short
spaces Of time. he replied, Yes; OK
pe5 10 live TO see the time and place
where such storms will develop and
weather changes take place one or TWO
days, or perhaps for a longer time betore,
hand. Inc neCuunlSn Vi HLpEhlh hhu
the causes which produce them are receiv-
ing special attention from some Of the
ablest men of the world and the ohcials
OF the weather bureau are not neglect
ing this feature
Look at the accuracy of the forecasts
issued now and look back at their Vague
! ess in the commencement of this work,
less than twenty-five years ago. MARX
the prcgrcss we have made, md then
calculate what the future progress VIII
be with improved methods, constantly
being adopted and meteorology rapidly
coming to the front as an exact science.
In regard 10 stations, floating observa.,
tories. In the Gulf the doctor stated
that these would aid materially In deter
mining the position aud progress Of
storms moving In the Gulf but would
hardly be OF very greut value In the case
of storms, which develop intensity In
very short space of time near the coast.
DIR. Cline has given great deal of
study 10 the subject of tropical storms,
and ON account of this fact his opinions
and conclusions on this subject are Of
great interest and value, and for this
reason he was asked as to the probn-
bility of severe storms along the Texas
coast and the probable extent Of their
damage.
In reply he referred to a recent article,
which he has been authorized by the chief
of the weather bureau to publish. from
which the following statement in this
connection is taken: The impression
prevails to n great extent that tropical
storms are frequent in this part Of the
country, while In fact the probabilities
of danger from this source are very
small. West India hurricanes are gem
orally first observed between 10 and 20
degrees north latitude, and longitude 80
TO 40 degrees west from Greenwich.
Elm addition to these there are semi
tropical storms. which have their origin
In tho Wnatarn nnrffuu of tho Gulf If
Mexico, near the dividing line between
the winds Of the equatorial system aud
those of the middle ATTITUDES. These
storms If acted ON by no other force
than the earth's rotation. would move
from the equator toward the north. but
parallel of latitude, they are carried by
the winds Of the equatorial system to
the westward and hence move toward
the northwest, until they reach this pural.
lei. after which they take up northerly
course for u short distance until, they
fall under the influence OF The winds OF
the middle attitudes. which carry them
| toward the northeast, thus describing In
their course a parabOlic curve. The
paraoolie curve Is generally very com
plete in West India hurricanes, but in
storms which have their origin In the
west gulf. the course is at first north
east or probably north for a short dis
tance and then northwest, which is due
10 the effect that the place of their origin
Is 50 near the southern limit of the winds
of the middle attitudes. that they are
from the outset under the influence of
these winds.
THE parhonlc curve described by these
storms in their progress northwnrd Ia
very similar TO the curve of the Texas
coast. and On this account the full effect
Of these storms Is rarely felt here. To
reach the Texas coast observations show
that the paths Of rhese storms must re-
main south Of or near the 18th parallel
| of latitude until they have passed to the
west of the 92d meridian, for when they
get north Of this they usually curve be-
! fore the west Gulf coast is reached and
pass off norlhward, leaving the Texas
coast in Us northern segment with only
brisk TO high northcrly winds. When
! the distribution Of pressure Is such as 10
| keep storm south Of 18th parallel until
after they have passed TO the west Of
the 32d meridian, they are more likely
TO strike the cost west Of the oDth mo
ridian, for when they assume course,
which would lead TO the east of this
they generally move northeast parallel
to the coast and give nOrtherly winds Is
referred to above"
The doctor stated in this connection
that in ease a severe storm should strike
this part OF the Texas coast, in all
probability very little damage would re-
suit on account OF physical feature
brougat out by Mr. Matthew -
4 Ataury several years ago and used in
| bis physical geography Of the seas, IN
| which he called attention TO &c fact that
Ia. island Of Galveston. being upon an
| Inclined plain on the Gulf side. which
continues under water at the rate Of
| ten feet to the mile. from natures great
| safeguard against the violence Of storms
| at sea. in which he evidently had refer
cnce TO the breaking up Of storm waves
on account Vt the small depth Of the
] water.