The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-04
OCTOBER ON THE LAKES.
A Chart of Weather and storms Is
rp sued to Sailors.

A Chart of Weather and storms Is
,n ssued to Sailors. ..t-..
Washington, Oct. 3:--It is the policy of
Secretary James Wilson to extend the OPP
erations of the department of agriculture
along all useful lines authorized by law.
Recently, after a consultation with the
chief Of the weather bureau, he decided to
make use of some of the great fund of
meteorological information contained in
that bureau by having 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 paststorms, much USE
full information might be collated and
published, showing a month in advance
what mariners might reasonably expect.
The first of this series of monthly charts
was mailed from the central office of the
weather bureau yesterday. 1t gives in
formation relative to the present month
of October. 1t shows the principal tracks
pursued by storms crossing the lake re-
gion. The track of greatest frequency is
eastward across the center of Lake Su-
perior. The storm track next in import
ance is a 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 a line
drawn from Port Arthur southeast to Pc
toskey Mich.
In other words, if during the coming
month a mariner notices by the daily re-
ports storm center in the region of any
of these tracks, he can very accurately
determine what will be its future course,
and can steer accordingly.
The chart shows the normal wind direc-
ton for the month at each of the weather
bureau stations. and about the number of
foggy days that may be expected on diff
ferent portions of the several lakes as de-
termined by the records for the past TWEEN
ty-seven years.
The text printed on the back of the
chart shows the location of all the danger
signals of the weather bureau-about 125
in number-and much other information
useful to vessel masters.
A typical cyelonic storm is shown in one
corner of the chart, with the covering of
the winds toward the center, and wind
barometer table of the lake region is in
cluded in the text. fI1
little study of the diagram of the
storm center III cOnuGCllOn WIN the WIDO
barometer table will enable captains 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 direct
Iy over the lake region in October, a ma
jority of which, however, can be safely
weathered by the larger craft. Occasion
ally an October storm OF unusual severity
sweeps over the lakes, endangering the
safety of the strongest vessels In the
last twenty years not more than half
dozen such storms have occurred in the
month above named. The storm of Oct.
1924, 1877, was probably one of the most
widespread for the season that has oc-
Cured 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 win
ter 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 west
ward. 1t has been observed as early as
Sept -, both at Marquette and Saulte
Ste Marie. On Lower Lake Michigan
snow has fallen as early as Oct. G. 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. 3S--is about ten days earlier than at
the western end.