Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-28

low the barometer registered 97 To the
east of 1t, extending considerably beyond
the northern and southern edges of the
low, was rain area covering all of Mis-
souri,, most Of Iowa. about half of the Da-
kotas and part of illinois, Indiana, Ken
lucky and the neighboring states. As
usual, with such meteorological disturb
ances, that are by no means abnormal, the
winds were generally blowing into the CEN
ter from all directions, and the storm was
moving gradually. as stated. toward the
Great Lakes, having been born In the arid
regions of Arizona and New Mexico.
There had been severe thunder storms
throughout the rain area indicated At
places the winds were high. The storm
center was almost in the midst of the cy-
clone district. The season of the year was
favorable to the creation Of sudden intense
disturbances. Consequently, on the basis
of all the conditions, with the knowledge
that such forecast could do no harm and
might save life, If properly observed the
following telegram was sent at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning by the acting chief Of
the bureau to Professor Garriott, at Chi
cago, who Is in charge of the district of the
Mississippi valley and the middle states:
The Official Warning.
Conditions favorable for severe local
storms in states of the lower Missouri and
Mississippi valley, southern and western
Illinois and Iowa, this afternoon or tonight
1t might be well to announce dangerous
conditions in special kilograms If you have
not already done So"
A duplicate of this dispatch was sent to
Prof. Willis l.: Moore, chief of the bureau
who was at that hour in Kansas CITY on
an official Grand Prof. Garriott acted i'm
mediately on these instructions, and short
ly after o'clock, Chicago time, he issued
the following special forecast to every sta
ton within his district:
Thunder storms severe in localities
forecasted this morning for the states of
the lower Missouri, the middle and upper
Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys and this
section"
Nearer than this no man could prophesy
the death-dealing storm which burst upon
st. Louis Yesterday afternoon. The wealth
er bureau had sent its warming but as
events proved, nothing could have dimin-
1shed to any practical extent the terrible
erect OF the storm, except that the citizens
Of st: Louis might have observed the warn
lrgs by Keeping away from the great river
excursion boats that, according to reports
were crowded when the storm broke in its
fury and were swamped with all on board.
How These Storms Occur.
At the bureau this morning the reporter
was told how these destructive tornadoes
occur. They usually follow in the path of
general storm conditions that move slowly
from the west to the east, or, as in this
case, from the southwest to the northeast.
At this time Of year these storms are quite
frequent and the cyclonic conditions NAV
NC pEOuuceO III any moment While such
disturbance is passing over the country
During April and May the cyclone area, as
indicated in the accompanying diagram, is
subject to visitations of this character at
almost airy hour. 1t is noticeable that in
each Of the four cases that have occurred
during the past few days the storms have
broken In their intensity in the late after
noon or evening, Just as 1t Is common for
severe thunder storms to develop in this
vicinity from to o'clock, after the heat
of the day has become intense.
The cyclone or tornado Is caused by a
meeting of two currents of air coming from
different directions. Flowing in behind the
general storm comes circling sweep from
the southeast near the earth. At the same
time there comes from the northwest A
higher. steadier current that meets the
twisting flow of air and causes a generally
whirling condition. If moisture is present
the whirl becomes intense. The velocities
of the winds Increase From a gale the
disturbance becomes a tornado, q hurri-
cane, cyclone. Sixty. seventy, eighty, a