Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-03-28
ALMANAC WEATHER PREDICTIONS.

up to about the middle of the present
century. The predictions were pro.
fessedly based upon lunar phases and
astrological calculations, and as they
could not fail to make correct guesses
occasionally, they maintained strong
hold upon popular credulity for long
period. ~
With the advance of meteorological
science. in the latter h alf OF this cen
fury, that species of charlatanry has
lost a large measure of its hold upon
public credence, but there are few
astrological almanac makers still doing
| business at the old stand, protesting
ability to forecast future terrestrial
weather by observation in the celestial
| realm.
Foremost in that class of long-range
weather prophets is Mr.. Ira r. Hicks,
of st. Louis, whose almanacs are eX-
| tensively circulated, and whose prog
nOstications are occasionally given cur
rency in the newspapers. lie writes
with an air of candOr, giving his read
ers the impression that he really be-
| Iieves in his so-called science OF planet
ary meteorology. Most of his forecasts
are couched in such general and in
definite terms, with such wide ranges
of time and territory, that he is enabled
| to figure out some sort of verification
for even the widest guesses. When his
notable weather events are brought
down to detinate dates and localities, he
falls far shor of the mark. We quote
the following as sample, from his
February forecast:
About the 9Th and 9Th, marked reactiOnary
storms will transpire, with good chances OF
being continued past the central day OF the Mars
equinox on the 18th, the full moon in Perigee on
the 9th, and into the Vulcan period, 9th and 18TH
| Some hard storms will occur, interspersed with
unsettled and threatening weather all along
these dates. The probabilities are that heavy
snow will prevail to the north, but that rains,
with lightning and thunder, will be the order in
the south, cyclones and tOrnadOes are among
the probabilities. Quick and extreme changes
to very cold will follow all general storms of the
month. The 18th and 18th will bring decided
storm conditions, with perhaps sudden cold
wave, but the temperature will react quickly to
much warmer, the barometer will fall-winds
| will change TO SOutherly, and storms of danger
Gus character will sweep through the continent
from ABOUT lIt %Zu 10 Z4Ill IIOOh IOl
| rains in many sections central and southwark,
with heavy snow and billiards. all along the
northern side of the country. At this time,
whenever it turns very warm, with south winds
| and low barometer no matter if III the far north
expect violent storms and carefully watch all
| threatening Clouds The probabilities are that
dangerous local floods may result from heavy
rains, impeded by the breaking and gOrging Of
| the ice along the rivers and streams that flow
| through narrow valleys.
| Careful and long observation has shown us
| that the first regular storm period after the
center Of Venus period is apt to bring the heayi-
| est storms. Unless this instance proves an eX-
ceptiOn, the storm period Goth to 24th, will make
| a record to be remembered. Look out for the
heaviest disturbances about the ODD, 23d and
| 9th. A great cold wave will follow from the
| nOrth-west-one that may prove terror to man
and beast. The month goes out growing
warmer, with reactiOnary storm conditions in
creaSng.
The weather records for February
contained in this issue of the NORtHlY
| RecieIC will show how far Mr.. Hicks
guesSes were wide of the mark Steady
cold weather prevailed during the first
| half of the month. with no marked
reaCtiOnary storms or extreme changes
of temperature. There were no lorna
| does reported in any part of the CONT
| nent. The 18th and 18th did not bring
decided storm conditions anywhere in
| the valley, with a sudden sweeping cold
wave. And there were no storms of
dangerous character sweeping through
the continent about the 22d to oath.
The period from the Goth to the oath
did not make a record to be remember
ed, except for mildness. The heavy
disturbance predicted for the 22d, add
and 9th did not materiali2e, and there
was no cold wave following those days
that was "a terror to man and beast"
In fact, the last week of February was
so balmy that thousands of acres were
sOwn to wheat. even as far north as
northern Iowa.
Mr.. Hicks says March will be a
stormy month" 1t does not require
great amount of astrological lore to
make that sort of guess in relation to
the month of March in this latitude.
Coming to a more specific statement.
he says the storm period will begin
about "the 4th, merging into the re-
dictionary storms due about the 18th
and 18th, making prolonged period of
general and violent disturbances. Rain
storms amounting to floods in many
localities will result. Very high tenn
perature in any part of the country, as
storms of this period approch, will be
an admonition of danger. Tornadoes
will apt to result. Rapid change to
colder will follow the storms, turning
the rains to heavy sleet in many Sec
lions A Sweeping blizzard in all north
erly regions need not cause surprise,
winding up with very cold wave.''
Up to this date, March II, the wealth
er has been unusually mild and dry
for early March. What the balance of
the month will bring forth remains to
be seen. For the month of February
and the first decade of March, Mr..
Hicks forecast was not even good
average guessing.-IoaCo Weather and
Crop Ser0ice.