The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-04
STORMS ON THE LAKES.
Valuable Data for Mariners Pub.
Ifshed by the Weather Bureau.


Ifshed by the Weather Bureau.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-It is the
policy of Secretary James Wilson to
extend the operations of the depart
ment of agriculture along all useful
lines authorized by law. Recently
after consultation with the chief of
the weather bureau, he decided to
make use of some Of the great fund
of meteorological information con-
tained in the weather bureau by hav
ing a monthly marine meteorological
chart issued for the benefit of the
mariners of the great lakes. He was
of the opinion that by study Of the
records of past storms, much useful
information might be collected and
published, showing month in ad-
vance what mariners might reasona-
bly, expect.
The first of this series of monthly
charts was mailed from the general
office Of the weather bureau yesteday.
1t gives information relative to the
present month of October It shows
the principal tracks pursued by
storms in crossing the lake region.
The track of greatest frequency Is
eastward across the center of Lake
Superior. The storm track next in
Importance is line drawn from Mil
Waukee northeast to Alpena The
next in order of frequency is line
drawn from the southern point of Lake
Michigan northeast to Port Huron;
and the least frequented Of the four
storm tracks is. represented by line
drawn from Port Arthur southeast to
Petoskey, Mich. In other words, if
during the coming month a mariner
notices by the daily reports storm
center in the region of any one Of
these tracks, he can very accurately
6ctn Wy hot ha itc
course and can steer accordingly.
The chart shows the normal wind
direction for the coming month at
each one of the weather bureau sta
tions and about the number of foggy
days that may be expected on differ
ent portions of the several lakes, as
determined by the records of the past
ed on the back of the chart shows
the location of all the danger signals
Of the weather bureau-about 125 III
number-and much other information
useful to vessel masters
A typical cyclonic storm is shown in
one corner of the chart, with the con-
verging of the winds towards the CEN
ter, and wind barometer table Of
the lake region is included in the text
A little study of the diagram of the
storm center in connection with the
wind barometer table will enable CAP
talnS who have left port to determine
the probable course of storm centers
last noted on the weather bureau
charts on shore.
On the average, five storms pass d1-
rectly over the lake region in October,
a majority of which, however, can be
safely weathered by the larger craft
Occasionally an October storm of un-
usual severity sweeps over the lakes
endangering the safety OF the strong
est vessels In the last twenty years
not more than "a half-dozen such
storms have occurred in the month
above named. The storm of October
1924, 1887, was probably one of the
most widespread and severe for the
season that has occurred within recent
years.
October is a month of transition
from warm to cold-generally one of
the most pleasant, in the year. The
change to winter conditions is first
noticeable on Lake Superior, where
light snow storms. may occur at any
time after the 18th. Snow falls in the
vicinity of Marquette a little earlier
than at other points to the westward.
1t has been obsevred as early as Sept.
13 both at Marquette and Sault Ste
Marie On lower Lake Michigan snow
has fallen as early as Oct. 6, but the
average date for snow there is about
a month later The average date Of
| snow at the eastern end of Lake Erie
that is Oct. 29-is about ten days