The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-15
THE MERCURY
DROPPED
TWO BELOW zero
The temperature Recorded
Here Yesterday Morning.
" B 0kE ALL RECORDS
NORTH CAROLINA THE CENTRE
OF THE COLD WAVE.
NOreElf re .OlNbS OF fCRM R Y AR
h. amage and Stuff ring ing fsm
his Colo Wave VIII Uncoub rdIy
rove ppiiog. Florida
NORTH CAROLINA THE CENTRE
OF THE COLD WAVE.
NO'aELt re .OlNbS OF .iCRM r Y AR
N IS too-

N IS 6oo-
Official report by the U. S. Weather
Bureau on the cold wave of February,
1859.
The occurrence of temperatures be-
low zero throughout the entire central
and western portion of North Carolina
on the morning of February 14th, 1888,
must be regarded as a most remarkable
phenomenon. All records at stations OF
the Weather Bureau were broken by
the following low readings: Charlotte,
degrees below; Raleigh, 2 degrees be-
low; Wilmington, above. These
readings average about 4 degrees lower
than all previous records. BY universal
consent the only storm of former years
comparable with it was that of 1857,
but unfortunately no reliable tempera-
readings from ordinary thermometers,
such as were in use in 1857 were zoo
unreliable to be of any scientichc value.
The snowfall during this storm aver
aging about 10 inches in depth in the
north central portion of the State, was
probably a little less than the amount
recorde9 IN 1857, but the blockade Of
trains was more complete on this oc-
casion. The chief difference between
the two storms is the shorter duration
of that of so so that the sounds and
rivers of the eastern part of the State
are not so thickly frozen as they Were
in 1857.
The report of IA degrees below zero
at Asheville yesterday morning would
indicate at such stations as Linville
and Highlands, minimum of 20 de-
grees below zero or more.
The following table Of lowest tenn
peratures previously recorded at num-
Der of voluntary stations is interesting
in this connections:
Asheville, below zero, February s.
1895 and January Is. 1893.
Charel Hill, l below zero, January
Is, 1893.
Fayetteville, I above zero. February s,
1895.
Highlands, II below zero, Februar,
8. 1895.
Fatteras, IL above zero, February 8,
1895.
Lenoir, 10 below zero, January 16.
Mornt Airy, Is below zero, January
It, 1893.
Newborn. 6 above zero, January II.
1893.
Norfolk, 2 above zero, February s.
1895.
Raleigh, 2 above zero, January II.
1893.
Roxboro, 4 below zero, February 8.
1895.
Southport, below zero, January ~.
1896.
Southern Pines, above zero, Febru-
ary 8. 1895.
Tarboro, / below zero, January 81.
1923.
Weldon. below zero, January
1898.
Wilmington, 10 above zero, December
1880.
From the temperature reported on the
immad'a te coast north of Hatferas il
appears that the cold wave terminating
yesterday did not have force sufficient
to overcome the modifying influence OF
the sea though the records were broken
at Wilmington. as well as further South
Mt Charleston. Savannah and in the in
terror. ut Montgomery an. Atlanta
This is explaind5le by the fact that
the cold wave came around the south end
of the Rlue Ridge: that is the barometriC
pressure was not sufficiently high to en-
able it to flow ;lirc'ly over the noun
tains
The cold wave was associoted as suci
severe spells always are. with the pas
SAGE Of cyclone or harametric denreS
sion along the coast of the Gulf of Mexi
60 and the Atlantic. 1t is remarkable
that tho further South tho path of smell
storm lies. the further South will tho
cold wave reach. The Northern par
of Florida. over which the storm passed
felt the full effect of ne cold wava.
The damage and suffering resu.tn.
will undoubtedly prove Il, he appall.ag
and it is difficrlt TO sac what useful Dir