The times., 1901-06-09

afrN~Jn summer produces a feeling of
closeness. Physical labor is more ener,
waiting than when the air is dry ana
crisp. The change from sultry, oppres-
sive weather is nearly always brought
about by a series Of thunderstorms
sometimes lasting two days. Summar-
izing the indications that may be drawn
from the temperature and moisture or
the air, it would appear that an Increase
in the amount of moisture In the ar Is
a sign of change from fair to toul
weather. both winter and summer. IN
the colder months an increase in the
temperature Of the air above the aver
age for the season, coupled with an m
crease in moisture. is a sign OF ram or
snow within twenty-four to torty-elght
hours. In summer an increase IN temper
ature alone is not always an indlcatioh
of rain But these are not infalliDle
The wind is less prophetic in character
than the clouds, since II Is aftecteu oE lhe
form Of the land over which II oloW5.
Thus it has a tendency TO blow up val
ley in the day time and in the contrary al-
rection at night no matter IN Wnat dire
ton the valley may extend. Winds also
have a tendency to blow toward ana up
the sides of a mountain slope in the day
time and down the side of mountain AT
night, and this movement OF AIR SeheraHS
extends for some distance out from the
foot of the mountain on the lever slopes;
There are also the weIl-known land ana
sea breeZes of all countries. Where; uuIlhS
the twenty-four hours of the day. the teiH-
Derature of the land becomes alternately
warmer and colder than that OF the sea;
These winds-valley, mountain, land anu
sea breezcs-are called diurnal winds.
They are caused by differences IN tenn
peratuUe thu are not general, out COR
fined to the valley or mountain slope OF a
particular locality In order that tlese
differences of temperature may arise there
must be clear weather and unoostructea
sunshine It Is easily seem then. thdt All
sIIcb winds must be most active in fair
weather and that when they cease, or IAN
to appear at the usual time, the atinos-
phere as a whole must have come under
an influence greater than that which pro-
duced the diurnal winds.
n the open country or other eNppSeu
situations where the true direction OF the
wind can be determined, it should be no
ticed first, what is the prevailing direction
of the wind in fair weather, ana What is
the direction from which storms nSu2IIy
come. The direction Of the Wlnd uuIihS
the twenty-four hours Immediately pre-
ceding the storm should be especially no
ticed. To do this short journal or Diary
of the weather should be kept. The direc-
ton of approach of storms in the United |
States varies in different localities. 1t IS
quite important that each observer deter
mine for his immediate nelghbOThOOd the
shift of the wind with the approach of |
storms during the colder months at least- |
THE COMING OF THUNDERSTORNS.
In the warm months the winds are light |
and rather variable and changes in di- |
rection have not the same Importance as |
in the colder months. The rain of sum- |
rner generally occurs in connection with |
It will be found that |
these are most frequent for a certain |
direction and with the wind in a particu- |
lar quarter. Beyond the fact that more |
thunderstorms come from westerly |
quarter than from any other direction, |
little can be said that viii be or value !
in foTeCasting their approach Dy the ul- |
rectiOn of the surface only. The coming |
of a thunderstorm can generally be fore !
4 in nd
and movement of the clouds.
In the colder months the winds are |
than at other seasons OF the |
year, and storms also move with greater /
rapidity. The signs of falling weather in |
the colder months are the formation of |
high sheet cloud covering the whole sky, |
an increase in the temperature, ana mois- /
ture of the air. and the change of the |
wind to some easterly quarter. The pre-
else direction that the wind takes varies !
for different localities and the direction |
from which the storm is approaching. |
In New England, the Middle States. and |
the Ohio Valley nOrtheasterly winds pre-
cede storms that approach from the |
southwest. and SOutheaSteriy WINDS pre-
cede storms that approach by way of the /
Lake region on the Pacific Coast south
easterly and southerly winds precede rain
storms. IN Wyoming and other North
western States the heavy suowstorms of
winter and spring generally come from
the north or northwest, with strong
wind from the same direction. The di- |
rection of the wind depends very much on
the position of travelling storms that pass
across the country. The storms OF the
cold season have certain well-marked
cha ara cteristics that should be easily rec
1guized by every worker in the open air. |
These are the changes in the aspect of
the sky, the direction of the wind be-
fore during, and after the storm. and the |
shift Of the wind, whether with or against |
the sun The clouds that pTecede the |
storm by from tweuty-four to thirty-six
hours are almost invariably light, wispy
cirrus. Soon after the appearance of |
clouds OF this class a sheet cloud forms
at a slightly lower elevation and grad |
lally thickens until the sun is hidden. |
rhe subsequent clouds are much darker
han those just mentioned and appear TO
'orm al much lower elevations.