The record-union., 1898-03-17
FRUIT WAS BADLY DAMAGED.
RESULT OF THE LATE HEAVY
FROSTS.
The Records, However, Show That
the Gold Snap is by No
Means Unusual.

The Weather Bureau reports snow
the highest and lowest temperatures
yesterday to have been 81 and 81 de-
grees, with gentle southerly winds and
partly cloudy weather prevailing.
The barometrical readings at . a. m.
and .. M yesterday were 300l inches
and 29.9S inches, respectively.
The highest and lowest temperatures
one year ago yesterday were 5S and ito
degrees, with 0.12 OF an inch of rain
and one year ago to-day 90 and Al de-
grees. with 0.13 inches of rain.
The average temperature was Il de-
grees and the normal 80 degrees, show
ing yesterday to have been 13 degrees
cooler than usual for the 10th day OF
March. There was severe and kill
ing frost yesterday morning, 1t being
the coldest morning for March lin q
Weather Bureau record of 20 degrees)
since the 18th day of March, 1880, when
the lowest temperature was ~ degrees
Yesterday morning was the first time
since 1880 that the lowest temperature
in this month fell to, or below the freez-
ing point (of b degrees) Weather Bu-
reau record, although S. Fl. Gerrish's
record shows the last lowest tempera-
ture for March was 81 degrees, on The
4th, 1896 His instruments are only a
few feet above the ground, while the
Weather Bureau instruments are a lit
| tie over 100 feet above the ground,
where the lowest temperature will aver
age from to degrees warmer than at
an elevation above the ground of only
four or five feet. This should always
be taken in consideration when study
ing low temperature records of the
Weather Bureau stations.
Reports from the fruit-growing dis
tricts are to the effect that great dam
age has been inflicted on early fruits
Down along the lower Sacramento
River it is thought the loss will be i'm
mense, as the temperature was very
low
As the recent frosty weather leads
people to think of the past, the follow
ing dates Of killing frosts for March
and April are compiled from special
frost data furnished by S. H Gerrfsh
local voluntary observer at this point,
to the Weather Bureau office They
run back to 1870 The dates show the
last killing frosts of the season occur
ring in March and April:
March s, 1870-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
March Is, 1S71-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
April ., 1S73-Lowest temperature,
27 degrees.
March 10, 1S7HLowest temperature.
2S degrees.
April g, 1S75-Lowest temperature,
q degrees.
March 30, 1SS0-Lowest temperature,
28 degrees.
March II, 1SS1-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
March 8, 1SS2-Lowest temperature,
% degrees.
April &c, 1S92-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
March 13, 1S93-Lowest temperature,
IS degrees.
March 4, 1S94-Lowest temperature,
80 degrees.
March 4, 1996-Lowest temperature,
30 degrees.
March IS, 1S9S-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees CWeather Bureau record)
Light frosts are liable to occur even
as late as May The following data
from Mr.. Gerrish's records show the
dates of occurrence of the last light frost
of spring:
May H. 1S70-Lowest temperature,
Al degrees.
May Is, 1SS2-Lowest temperature,
II degrees.
May ., 1SS3-Lowest temperature,
Al degrees.
May 10, 1SS7-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
May II, 1S92-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
May 16, 1S94-Lowest temperature,
81 degrees.
May II, 1S96-Lowest temperature,
Al degrees.
The frosts on May 10, 1887 and May
ii, 1892, were severe enough to do con-
siderable damage to grape and other
fruits which were then in bloom. The
present cold spell for March is there
fore not an unprecedented one, as the
above selected dates from Mr. Gerrish's
records show.