The herald., 1897-10-04
LAKE MARINE
To Receive Fair Warning
of Storms
A MONTHLY WEATHER CHART
SHOWING REGION OF PROBABLE
TEMPESTS
The Vast Fund of Meteorological In
formation May Assist Sailors to
Avoid Disaster
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Oct 3.--It is the pol
icy of Secretary James Wilson to ex-
tend the operations Of the department
of agriculture on all useful lines author
lied by law.
The secretary, after consultation with
the chief Of the weather bureau, decided
to make use Of some of the great run
of meteorological information contained
in the weather bureau by having
monthly marine meteorological chart
issued for the benefit Of the marines OF
the Great Lakes He was of the opinion
that by a study of the records OF past
storms, much useful information might
be collected and published, showing
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. l.
gives the information to the present
month Of October 1t 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 Michi-
gan 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 a storm center in the region of
any one Of these tracks he can very ac-
curately determine what will be its
future course and can steer accordingly
The chart shows the normal wind di-
rection for the coming month at each
one Of the weather bureau stations and
the number of stormy days that may
be expected on different portions of the
several lakes, as determined by the rec
ords of the past twenty-seven years.
The text printed on the back Of the
chart shows the location of all the
danger signals of the weather bureau,
about 1875 in number, and much other in
formation useful to vessel masters. A
technical cyclone storm is shown in one
corner Of the chart with the converg-
ing Of the winds toward the center, and
a wind barometer table Of the lake re-
gion Is included in the text
A little study OF the diagram OF the
storm centers in connection with the
wind barometer table will enable cap
tains who have left port to determine
the probable course of storm centers las,
noted on the weather bureau charts on
shore.
On the average five storms pass di-
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 strongest
vessels. In the last twenty years more
than half a dozen 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 re-
cent 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 any time after the
18th Snow falls in the vicinity of Mar
quette little earlier than at points to
the westward.
1t has been observed as early as Sep
tember 18th, both at Marquette and
Sault Ste. Marie. On lower Lake Mich
igan snow has fallen as early as October
9Th, but the average date for snow there
is a month later. The average date OF
snow at the eastern end of Lake Erie
is October 9th, about ten days earlier
than at the western end