Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-08-01

60 HE weather man does not keep
all his wisdom secret, nor all the
"a tricks of his maps. They are
yours and all the worlds for the read
ing. The weather man" has pointed
out the atmospheric conditions, the fea-
lures of the sky and the clouds, and the
time of day which must be taken into
consideration when attempting to fore
cast the approach of storm. and
which, if rightfully interpreted, are
certain signs. The leading conditions
to be considered are the aspect OF the
western horizon, the presence or alb
sence of the cirrus and cirrus stratus
clouds, the temperature, with sultri-
ness and humidity, and the distance
from the turning point in the days tenn
perature. If these different conditions
are correctly understood there should
be no difficulty, he says, in foretelllng
a thunderstorm.
There is one feature of an uncertain
ty, however, about the actual appear
ance of a storm correctly predicted, and
this is due to the fact that all thunder
storms are distinctly local features,
having to do with extremely limited
areas, and all of short duration. This
renders it possible for one to see a
storm coming and really on Its way,
but to be disappointed of its arrival in
ones own locality. Its energy has been
spent before it has had time to come
sufficiently far. Thunderstorms rarely
cover more than thirty to forty miles
in stretch, generally no more than
eight miles, while some are much
shorter. A hailstorm, which always
signifies the expenditure of tremendous
force, seldom covers more than one
eighth of a mile. Less severe storms
are sometimes no longer. In looking
for storm the western sky is the only
sky point of value. This is because
storms always have been known to
travel from west to east. If you see
storm due north or due south, it is more
than probable that, it will not reach
your locality, but if it is due west Or
| west of north or perhaps west of south,
you may look for its arrival unless 1t
should happen to eXpend its energies on
the way before reaching you.
Look Out for Mares Tails"
The clouds which foretell a storm
are the cirrus clouds, "amers' tails' the
country folk call them-hair-like shreds
threaded across~the heavens, later gath
ering into the cirrus stratus, white and
gray cloud sheets, which are the true
rain clouds. The atmosphere is always
heated with sultry humidity. 1t is
warm and moist, thick, heavy, muggy
1t sometimes almost feels wet. People
ofen then speak of feeling" the rain
in the air. There is rarely any wind
preceding storm for any length OF
time; the air is exceptionally still. AS
the tempest approaches nearer, how
ever, a soft, thick, wet" sort OF
''whirr," characteristic as a harbingel
of the rainstorm at its heels, is felt
stirring abroad. This is most familiar
to all those who have made study OF
weather conditions and as easy of rec
ognition as the awful oracles of the
weather prophet monstrosities on feet
The time of day when rain is most
likely to fall is about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, or again between 2 and
o'clock in the morning. These are the
two turning points in the days tenn
perature. At o'clock the maximum
heat usually has been reached for af
ternoon, while at night the GOODNESS has
thoroughly set in. In case of success
sion of thunderstorms they usually oc