The Portland daily press., 1897-08-24
WARNING TO KLoNDIKERs.
Weather Circular Prepared BY U. g.
Weather Bureau.

Under the direction of Secretary of
Agriculture, James Wilson, Willis l..
Moore, Chief of the Weather Bureau, gives
out the following:
q. S. Department of Agriculture,
Weather Bureau,
Washington, d. c., July 80, 1897.
THE CLIMATE OF ALASKA.
The general conception of Alaskan eli
mate is largely due to those who follow
the sea, and this is not strange when we
consider the vast extent OF shore line
tower $4,000 miles) possessed by that ter
rltory. The climates of the coast and the
interior are unlike in many respects,
and the differences are intensified in this
as perhaps in few other countries by ex-
cept1onal physical conditions. The nat
ural contrast between land and sea is
here tremendously increased by the cur
rent of warm water that impinges on the
coast of British Columbia, one branch
lowing northWard toward Sltka, and
thence westward to the Kadial and
Shumagin Islands. The fringe of islands
that separates the mainland from the
Paclhc ocean from Dixon Sound north
ward, and also strip of the mainland
Tor possibly 20 miles back from the sea,
following the sweep of the coast as 1t
Jul fOS W UiiG AOIbilW6sbWdTu " UHO WoSo-
ern extremity of Alaska, form distinct
climate division which may be termed
temperate Alaska.
The temperature rarely falls to zero;
winter does not set in until about Decem-
Der land by the last of May the snow has
disappeared except on the mountains
The mean winter temperature of Sitka
is 81. degrees, but little less than that of
Washington. d. G. While Sitka is fully
exposed to the sea influence, places farth-
er inland, but not over the coast range of
mountains, as Killisnoo and Juneau, have
also q mild temperature throughout the
winter months. The temperature changes
from month to month in temperate A las
ka are small, not exceeding rs degrees
from midwinter to midsummer. The
average temperature of July, the warm
est month of summer, rarely reaches 80
degrees, and the highest temperature for
single day seldom reaches rs degrees.
The rainfall of temperate Alaska is no.
torious the world over not only as regards
the quantity that falls, but also as to the
manner of it's falling, viz: In long and
fog naturally abound, there being on an
average but 66 clear days in the year.
Alaska is a land of striking contrasts
both in climate as well as topography.
When the sun shines, the atmosphere is
remarkably clear, the scenic effects are
magnificent, all nature seems to be in
holiday attire. But the scene may
overcast; the winds increase in force;
rain begins to fall; the evergreens sigh
omlnously, and utter deSolation and lone
illness prevail.
North of the Aleutian Islands the coast
climate becomes more rigorous in winter,
but in summer the difference is much less
marked. Thus, at ST. Michaels, a short
6iStanca phOVn tha mouth of the VnEnn
the mean summer temperature is 50
degrees, but degrees cooler than Sitka.
| The mean summer temperature of Point
Barrow, the most northerly point in the
United States. is 1858 degrees, but four
tenths of degree less than the tempera-
ture of the air flowing across the summit
of Pixies Peak, Colorado.
The rainfall of the coast region north of
the Yukon delta is small, diminishing to
less than 10 inches within the Arctic
circle.
The climate of the interior, including
inthat designation practically all of the
country except a narrow fringe of coastal
margin and the territory before referred
TO as temperate Alaska, is one of extreme
rigor in winter, with brief but rela-
lively hot summer, especially when the
sky is free from cloud.
In the Klondike region in midwinter
the sun rises from $50 to 1000 8. IN. and
sets from 200 to 800 p. M, the total
length of daylight being about four
hours. Remembering that the sun rises
but few degrees above the horizon and
that it is wholly obseured on great
many days, the character of the winter
months may easily be imagined.
We are indebted to the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey for a series OF
six months observations on the Yukon,
not far from the site of the present gold
discoveries. The observations were made
with standard instruments and are who'll
~ reliable. The mean temperatures of
the months OF October, 1889, to April,
1880, both inclusive, are as follows: Oc-
tober, 80 degrees (abeye zero); Novem-
Der, 8 degrees (above zero); December, IL
degrees lbelow zero; January, II degrees
(below zero); February, 10 degrees (be-
low zero); March, 8 degrees (above zero);
April 20 degrees (above zero). The daily
mean temperature fell and remained be-
low the freezing point (32 degrees) from
November 4, 1889, to April 81, 1890, thus
giving 1853 days as the length of the closed
| season 1SS9-9O, assuming that outdoor
operations are controlled by temperature
only, being suspended when the daily
mean falls to or below the freezing point.
The lowest temperatures registered dur
ing the winter We're:
30 degrees below zero in November.
Al degrees below zero in December.
% degrees below zero IN January.
IS degrees below zero in February.
45 degrees below zero in March.
| 26 degrees below zero in April.
The greatest continuous cold occurred
in February, 1880, when the daily mean
for five consecutive days was AZ degrees
below zero. The weather moderated
slightly, about the 1st of March, but the
temperature still remained below the
freezing point Generally cloudy weather
prevailed, there being but three consecu-
tive days in any month with clear wealth
er during the whole winter. Snow fell on
about one-third of the days in winter
and less number in the early spring
and late fall months.
Greater cold than that here noted has
been experienced in the United States for
| a. very short time, but never has 1T con-
! tlnued SO very cold for SO long time. In
| the interior Of Alaska the winter sets in
as early as September, when snowstorms
may be expected in the mountains and
passes. Roadway during one of these
storms is impossible, and the traveller
who is oyertaken by them is indeed fort.
innate If he escapes with his life. Snow
storms OF great severity may occur in