The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-20

The above are forecasts for the weather
today.
"At present there is no prospect for a
break in the heated spell we are now
experiencing" said Mr.. Won Hermann,
the local forecaster here, yesterday. 1T
looks as if it will continue for several
days yet. There can be no break in it
until we have rain, and the prospect for
that is remote.
This mornings reports show the ba-
ron1ster rising over the Dakotas. If this
continues it may bring a change in tenn
perature here by Sunday. There is hardly
possibility of it earlier
The weather during the present month
has been remarkable for two things-its
heat and s\dryness.
In the first particular it has been sur
passed by several previous Julys, but for
dryneSs it has broken all records. And
this absence of moisture in the atmos-
phere or an OCCASIONAL cooling by rain,
has accentuated the heat, making it much
more oppressive to man and beast and in
furious to plant life than it would other
wise have been.
From July 1st to the Goth, inclusive,
only SO of an inch of rain has fallen in
Raleigh, and nearly all of that fell on one
day (the 12th). The amount that ought
normally to have fallen in the first twenty
days of this month is 40 inches. There
has, therefore, been deficiency of "A
inches-a very big deficiency.
Examination of the records at the
Weather Bureau here shows that only
once since its establishment has there
been anything like so small a rainfall in
corresponding period. This was in July
1898, when there was only $40 inches Of
rain during the month. The largest fall
of rain ever known in July was in 1890.
when 1923 inches fell. This was closely
followed in 1891 by 1899 inches.
The average precipitation for this
month during the past IA years has been
+ 6.63 inches. From this it can be seen
how terribly dry is the July in which only
little over a quarter of an inch has
fallen during the first twothirds of the
month. and no prospect for rain for the
next third.
In other words our shortage on rain is
unprecedented, with little chance of being
able to make it up. And this too, at the
time of year. when plants require the
greatest amount of moisture and heat.
We are getting the heat alright, but We
are several chips shy on moisture.
The temperature so far has averaged
about SO degrees, ) degrees above the
normal for July. The highest temperature
occurred on the 9Th and 18th when the
thermometer climbed to 80 and stuck
there for two days. Again on the 10Th it
started upward and got to &C. and for 13
days during the month it has been 80
and over.
This is mighty hot, but it doesn't COM
pare with some previous records for July.
In 1887, 1883 and 1893, for instance the
temperature was above 100, the highest
ever known in Raleigh being 103 on July
18th, 1887.
The cause of the present high temper
mann says, is the fact that the barome-
trio pressure has been high on the South
Atlantic coast, lingering there for days
without change. In consequence of this.
the low areas or storms that bring rain
fall not being able to displace that high
area, have all taken a northern course
over the Lake region. Hence no precipi
tation could occur in this section.
AS long as this high pressure remains
in the South Atlantic coast and the
barometer continues low in the west there
can be no rain, Mr.. Won Hermann says.