The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-30
WINTER TEMPERATURE IN Alaska.
Along the Coast II II About the Same M Hero
In the Interior 1t In Extremely Cold.

so - ~ Sohes
WASHINGTON, July 29.-owing to the unusual
interest excited by the discovery of gold in the
Klondike region, Willis l. Moore, Chief Of the
Weather Bureau, has prepared, at the direo-
ton of Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, o spo-
cial bulletin describing at length and in a most
interesting way the weather conditions OF
Alaska at all seasons Of the year. With re-
gard to temperate Alaska" by which In
meant the fringe of islands between the main
land and the sea and the strip of mainland run
ming along the coast to the western extremity
OF the territory and about twenty miles back
from the sea, tho report says the temperature
rarely falls TO zero. Winter does not set
in until Dec. /, and snow disappears, except
on the mountains, by May.1. The average tenn
perature,o of July, the warmest, month Of sum.
mer, rarely reaches $50, and the highest does
not exceed 75'. The mean winter temperature
of Sitka is 32.5o. or a little less than at Wah-
ington, i. C.. Tho report then continues:
THE rainfall OF temperate Alaska is notorious
:he world over, not only as regards the quantity
that falls, but also as to the manner Of its fall
ing, viz, in long and incessant rains and
drizzles. Clouds and fog naturally abound.
there being on an average but %ffty-six clear
days in the year. Alaska is a land of striking
contrasts, both in climate as we'll as in topos-
raphy. When the sun shines the atmosphere
is remarkably clear, the scenic effects are mag
nitlcent, and nature seems TO be in holiday
attire, but the scene may change very quickly.
The sky becomes overcast, the winds increase
In force, rain begins 10 tall, the cvergreens
sigh ominously, and utter desolation and lone
North of tho Aleutian Islands the coast Gle
mate becomes more rigorous i'll winter, but in
fYmGSr t st. M SinfTsh'G a = sho orpt distance tsss wA north
of the mouth Of the Yukon, the mean summer
temperature is So, but four de Srses cooler than
Barrow, the most n~orthcrly point in the United
States, is $500, but four-tenths OF a degree less
| than Tho npNn n - 1rn NJ tho ~ nl1II AHTnEa
the summit OF Pixies Peak, Colorado. The rain
fall OF the coast rsgi9n north OF the Yukon
delta is small. diminishing TO less than ten
inches within the Arctic circle:
The climate OF the interior, including in that
cept a narrow fringe Of coastal margin and the
territory before referred 10 as temperate Alaska
but relatively hot summer, especially when the
sky is free from clouds. u -.
In the klondike resion in midwinter the
from . TO 3P. NJ. the total length OF day
light being about four hours. Remembering
horizon, and that it is wholly obscured on .
great many days, the character, OF tho winter
The statement OF Pref. Moore includes a series
q six months observations by the Cpited States
cries: These observations, which, OF course, are
absolutely reliable. show that the mean tempera-
ture from October, 1889. to April. 1890. both
inclusive, were as follows:
october. 30. above zero: November, g. above:
February, 49, below; March, g. above zero;
April, no. above. The daily mean temperature
fell and .rcmained bclow'tho freezing point t32')
from NOV. 4, 1889, to April II, 1890, thus Civ
ing 1863 days az the length OF the:closcd season.
lss9-9o, assuming that outdoor operations are
controlled by temperature only.
The lowest temperatures registered during the
winter We're: 30 below in November, A.
below in December, 59' below in January, Dos
below in February, Az below i'll March, 20
below in April.
The report concludes as follows:
"In the interior OF Alaska the winter sets in
as early as September, when snowstorms may
be expected in the mountains and passes, Head,
ing during one OF these storms Is impossible, and
tho traveller who is overtakcn by one of
them is indeed fortunate If hc escapes with
his life. SnowatornS OF great severity may oc-
eur In any, month from September 10 May, in
winter TO summer arc rapid. owing 10 the great
increase in the length Of tho day. In May the
sun rises at about 3 A. NJ. and sets about o p.
NJ. In June it rises about 80 IN the morn
ing and sets at 1880, giving about twenty
hours OF daylight and difuse twilight the re-
muindcr OF the time. The, mean summer tenn
perature OF the interior doubtless ranges boz
tween GO0 and zoe. according 10 elevation.
being highest in the middle and lower Yukon
valleys"