Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-09-02
Climate Of Alaska.

Under the direction OF Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson, Chief Moore Of the
weather bureau has made public a
statement in regard to the climate OF
Alaska In this statement Mr.. Moore
says:
The climates of the coast and the
interior of Alaska are unlike in many
respects and the differences are inten-
sified In this as perhaps In few other
countries by exceptional physical con-
ditions. The fringe of islands that
separates the mainland from the Pa
cIfic ocean from Dixon sound north and
also strip Of the mainland for possi-
bly, twenty miles back from the sea.
following the sweep of the coast as 1t
curves to the northwestward to the
western extremity Of Alaska form
distinct climatic division which may
be termed temperate Alaska. The tenn
perature rarely falls to zero; winter
does not set in until Dec. 1, and by the
last of May the snow has disappeared
except on the mountains. The mean
winter temperature of Sitka is 32.6. but
little less than that of Washington, u.
C. The rainfall OF temperate Alaska ID
notorious the world over, not only az
regards the quantity that falls. but also
as to the manner of its falling. viz: In
long and incessant rains and dri1Iies.
Cloud and fog naturally abound, there
being on an average but sixty-six clear
days In the year. North Of the Aleu-
tian Islands, the coast climate becomes
more rigorous In winter. but In summer
the difference is much less marked. The
climate of the Interior, including In
that designation practically all OF the
country except narrow fringe OF coast
al margin, and the territory before re-
ferred to as temperate Alaska is ohe
of extreme rigor in winter with Driet
but relatively hot summer. especiaiiy
when the sky is free from cloud. IN
the Klondyke region in midwinter the
sun rises from $3.50 tn 10 a. m. and sets
from 2 to 3 p. M. the total length Oh
the daylight being about four nours'
Remembering that the sun rises Dut
,ew degrees above the horizon. ana that
IT ia wholly obscured on great many
days the character of the winter
months may easily be Imagined. W.
are indebted to the United states coas'
and .geodetic survey for series OF SIX
months. observations on the Yukon.
NOT far from the site Of the present Soid
discoveries. The observations were
made with standard instruments ana
are wholly reliable. The mean temper
.ture Of the months OF October. 1885,
IN Apr,l. 1890, both inclusive, are ~
follows: October. SO degrees' NoVem-
her. 8 degrees; December. IL degrees
below zero; January, II degrees oeio"
zero: February. 15 below zero; March'
a above; April, 20 above. The da'iy
moan temperature fell and remained
below the freezing point (32 desrees)
from Nov. 4, 1889. to April Il. 1880.
thus giving 1853 days AZ the length OF
the closed season Of 1SS9-90. assuming
me outdoor operations are controlled
BY temperature only. The lowest tenn
psraturss registered during the winter
were 81 degrees below zero In Novem.
bsr. 47 degrees below in December, o.
dasrees below In January. 55 degrees
beiov in February. 46 degrees below IN
March. and 26 degrees below In April.
The greatest continuous cold occurred
In Fsbruary, 1890. when the daily mean
for flvs consecutive days was AZ degrees
holov ,ero. Greater cold than that
here noted has been experienced In the
JJniSed states for q short time. but
never has II continued SO very cold for
"a lonr a time. In the interior OF
Alaska the winter sets In as early a.
september, whom snow storms may De
expscted in the mountains and passes.
Headway during one Of these storms Is
impossible, and the traveller who Is
overtaksn by one of them il indeed for
inmate II he escapes with his life. Snow
storms OF great severity may occur In
any month from September to May, IN
elusive. The changes Of temperature
from winter to summer are rapid ow-
Ing to the great increase in the length
of the day. In May the sun rises ut
about 8 q. m. and sets about . p. m.
In June II rises about 1880 O'Clock In
the morning and sets at about 1880
o'clock, giving about twenty hours OF
DAYLIGHT and diffused twilight the re-
msindsr of the time. The mean SUM
mer temperature in the interior doubt
less ranges between so and 20 degrees,
according to elevation. being highest In
the middle and lower. Yukon valleys.