The record-union., 1896-08-31
WHAT WILL THE SEASON Be !?
Observer BarWiCk's SpeculatiOnS on Its
heteOrOlOSy.
Yesterdays Rainfall Not Exceeded In
August in the Last Forty
Seven Years.

highest and lowest temperatures yeslef-
day to have been rs and GA degrees with
gentle winds and partly cloudy weather
prevailing.
The barometrical readings at a. m
and > p. m. yesterday were 3o.U9 ana
oO.0i inches, respectively.
The highest and lowest temperatures
one year ago yesterday were 81 and 81
degrees. and one year ago to-day 81
and 90 degrees.
The dry thermometer at a. m. was
63 degrees, wet 81, dew point 90, hu-
midity 50 per cent. with vapor pres
sure of .517 inches; wind west, five
miles per hour and light rain, with IA
Of an inch during the twelve hours end
ing at a. m.
The dry thermometer at 3 p. m. was
n degrees, wet sc, dew point 81, humid
ity 81 per cent. with vapOr pressure
of .536 inches; wind north, four miles
per hour, and weather clear, with .O6
of an inch of rain during the twelve
hours ending at 5 p m.
The average temperature was 40 de-
grees and the normal II degrees, show
Ing yesterday to have been degrees
cooler than the normal for August 3Oth-
The total rainfall yesterday was 20
Of an inch. 1t was the greatest that has
ever before fallen at Sacramento in the
month of August in a record of forty
seven years. In fact, the back records
show that yesterday was the fourth
time in forty-seven years that rain has
fallen in August to an appreciate
amount These four years and amounts
are as follows: August, 1862, .0l of an
inch 1864, 09 of an inch; 1876, .02 of an
inch, and 1896, 20 of an inch. 1t will
be seen that more rain fell yesterday
than has fallen altogether in August
during the past forty-one years.
The records show that appreciable
rains in August were invariably fol-
lowed by none Cor only a sprinkle) in
September, and if this holds good for
the coming month then all will be we'll
with the raisin growers. The greatest
rainfall in October was that of the year
1876. when 3.45 inches were measured.
This was preceded in August by .02 of
al inch, and a sprinkle in September.
The total seasons rainfall following
those years in which appreciate
amounts of rain fell in August are as
follows:
August, 1862, Oh of an inch; rainfall
fo- the season of 1923, 11.5S inches.
August, 1864, .0S of an inch; rainfall
for the season of 1S64-5, POL inches.
August. 1876, 02 of an inch; rainfall
for the season of 1861, S.96 inches.
August, 1896, 20 of an inch.
Conclusions drawn from the past
forty-six years shows that the chances
are greater for the coming season being
one of moderation or even a dry one
than otherwise. Although the year
that gave the greatest precipitation II
August-outside OF the present one
was followed by an abnormal rainfall
that is. it was over inches greater
than the normal the latter being 1913
inches. while the season of 1S64-o gave
pol inches
The dryest December ever known was
that of 1876, when no rain fell at an
That month was preceded by an appre-
ciable precipitation in August OF w o.
an inch
A study of the rain table for Sacra'
rnento. running back TO the season o.
1S49-50, shows that during the entire
reriod of forty-seven seasons there new
t.r were more than two consecutive sea
sons that gave a rainfall above the
normal but that were followed by ont
or more seasons whose rainfalls were
fore stated, for record of forty-seVer
seasons, is 1914 inches.
Beginning with the season of 1898
we have 1886 inches, and 20.O6 II
1S53-54. both above the normal. Thes'
two seasons were followed by five tina
gave a total seasons precipitation be
low the normal, and the next or sixth
one gave a total of 22.09 inches. Thii
was followed by one below normal
while that was followed by an abnorna
seasons rainfall, there being SCOT
inches in the season of 1857, or tn
year of the great Sacramento flood
This was followed by two very dr.
seasons.
The two seasons of 1861 and 1867
were above normal, followed by thre'
seasons whose rainfalls We're below
normal The next two consecutive sea
sons giving a rainfall above norma
were those of 1S79-S0 and 1SS0-1, fol
lowed by two seasons whose rainfall
was below normal.
Now the next two consecutive seasons
when the total precipitation was abov
normal We're the seasons of 1919 anC
1896. Then, If conclusions can b'
based on past records Of a great numbe
OF years. the coming season viii not b
what Californians would call wet one
hut rather will be one of moderation
which, If properly distributed, will b.
of much greater benefit than large O.
abnormal seasonal precipitation.
The years that gave two seasons o
abnormal rainfaIs We're followed b!
seasons whose total rainfall range,
from SAT inches to 1902 inches.
There has really been no extremel.
dry season in this State since the on
Of 1861, when but SOC inches wa
measured. This leads one to believe tina
increased cultivation of the soil, tn
planting of trees, the increase in rail
road tracks and electric wires have ha,
and are having beneficial effect upo!
the distribution more evenly of TIL
seasons rainfall, thereby reducing tn
probabilities of our having extremel,
dry seasons.
The coming season Will therefore b
looked forward to with some degree o
interest by those weather-wise or 9th
erwise interested in the precipitation o
the advancing season.
Comparisons are said to be odious
hut 1t is by comparison that knowl
edge Is obtained. especially in eli
pathological and meteorological sciences
Those sciences must be judged by av
erages. means and extremes. BY sue
records. obtained for many years Q
accurate observations, the stability an
ccnstancy of a climate is obtained. FroT
such records the probable weather 70
coming seasons may be. to a reasonabl
degree. predicted.
Our table of rainfall, extending bac
for forty-seven years, can be used as
pretty fair basis to go by. and page