The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-10-08
METEOROLOGICAL.


! New Departure by the Agricultural De-
partment Marine meteorological
Chart to be Issued Monthly by the Wea-
ther Bureau for the Information of Those
Sailing the Great LaAes-The October Re-
port.
WASHINGTON, Oct At is the policy
of Secretary James Wilson to extend
the operations of the department Of
agriculture along all useful lines au-
thorized by law. Recently, after con-
sultation with the chief of the weather
bureau, he decided to make use of some
of the great fund of meteorological in
formation contained in the weather
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 past storms,
much useful information might be col.
lected and published, showing month
in advance what mariners might rea-
sonably expect.
The first of this series of monthly
charts was mailed from the central of
fee of the weather bureau Saturday.
It gives information relative 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
a line drawn from Milwaukee north
west to Alpena. The next in order of
frequency is line drawn from the
southern point of Lake Michigan.
northwest to Port Huron, and the least
frequented of the four storm tracks is
represented by a line drawn from Port
Arthur southeast to PetoSl1ey, Mich.
In other words, if during the coming
month a mariner notices by the daily
reports storm center in the region OF
any one of these tracks, he can very
accurately determine what will be its
future course and can steer accord
ingly.
The chart shows the normal wind di-
rection for the coming month at each
one of the weather bureau stations,
and about the number of foggy days
that may be expected on different por-
tions of the several lakes, as deter
mined by the records of the past 81
years.
The text priated on the back of the
charts 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 cyclonic storm is shown in
one corner of the chart with the con-
verging of the winds toward the CEN
ter and a wind barometer table of the
lake region is included in the text.
A little study of the diagram of the
storm center in connection with the
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 di-
rectly over the lake region in October,
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 strong
est vessels. In the last 20 years not
more than a half dozen such 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 recent 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 first no.
ticeable 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 westward.
1t has been observed as early as Sep
tember 13, both at Marquette and Sault
Ste. Marie. On lower Lake Michigan
snow has fallen as early as October 6,
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, October 28-is
about ten days. earlier than at the
western end.