The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-04
STORMS ON TIE GREAT LAKES.
Meteorological Charts to ne Issued Htonthiy
for the Bencnt or Mariners.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.-.Sccretacy of ARricul-
turo James Wilson, after n consultation with
the Chief OF the Weather Bureau, has decided
to utilize tho treat fund OF meteorological in.
formation contained In the Weather Bureau by
having n monthly marine meteorological chart
issued for tho benefit Of tho mariners Of our
great inland seas. He is of the opinion that by
q study OF the records OF past storms much use
full information might hc tollnted and pub.
lished, showing a month in advance whsa
mariners might reasonably expect.
The first OF this series OF monthly charts was
mailed from the central office OF the Weather
Bureau to-day. 1t gives information relative to
tho present month of October. 1t shows the
principal tracks pursued by storms in crossing
the lake region. Tho track of greatest fro
uuoncy is eastward across The centre of Lake
Superior. The storm track next in Importance
Is a line drawn from Milwaukee,. northeast to
Alpcna. The next in order of frequency. is, a
line drawn from tho southern, point OF Lake
Michigan, northeast to Port Huron; and tho
least frcqucntod of tho storm racks is repre-
scented by a line drawn from FORT ArthMr' SOUTH.
cast to Petoskey. Mich. In other words. u, dur
Ing the coming month, q mariner notices by the
daily reports a storm centre In the region OF any
1n9 81 sN WSot WILDE viii be- It's future course, and can
The chart shows tho normal wind direction
for the coming month at each one of the Wealth:
er Bureau stations. and about the numoer OF
foggy days that may be eTpsGtie nad on ht d he rso.
| VI N"o tsNS W
ords OF the past twenty-seven years. The text
printed on the back of the chart shows tho
location of all the danger signals of the Weather
Bureau-about 1875 in cumberland much other
, information useful to vessel masters.
A typical cyclonic storm Is shown in one cor
ner Of the chart, with the converging OF the
winds toward the centre. and a wind
table of tho lake region is included in tho text.
A little study of the diagram Of the storm CEN
tire, in connection with the wind
| table, will enuble Captains who have left port
to determine the probable course Of storm
centres last noted on the Weather Bureau
charts on shore.
On the average. five storms pass directly over
the lake region in October, u majority Of which,,
however, can be safely weathered by the larger
craft. Occasionally 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 q half dozen such
storms have occurred in the month above
named. The storm of Oct. % and "a. 1887. was
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. Tho change to winter 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 O little
earlier than at other points to the westward. 10
has boen observed as early as Sept. 13, both at
Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. On lower Lake
Michigan snow has fallen as early as Oct. 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 ia, Oct. 2s-is about ten
days earlier than at tho western end.