Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-29
lowA's WEATHER.
Review of Report for April Affecting
the Whole State.

Despite the fact that many doleful
ognostications were made regarding
the crops as result of the weather of
April this year and the lack Of ruin
during the month, Ottumwa had a
rainfall amounting to about the aver
age for the state. One and ninety
eight hundredths inches of water fell
during the month of April at Ottumwa,
and according to the state weather re-
port for the month Ais inches was the
maximum for the state, this amount
being reported at Bonaparte. The av-
erage precipitation for the state, as !
shown by records of 100 stations, was
LII inches, or 1.50 inches below nor
NAL. The averages by sections were
as follows: Northern section, 1.34
inches; central section, 1.60 inches;
northern section, 2.19 inches. In the
southwest corner of the state there
was very little rain. Glenwood report
| ing only three-tenths of an inch and
Council Bluffs but AT. The greatest
daily rainfall reported was 2.95 inches
at Sioux Center on April 25. The ay-
erage number of days on which oil
| inch or more of rain fell was s.
| The average highest temperature for
the state was S7.5 degrees and the av-
erage low mark was 1873 degrees. OF
| tumwa's hottest day was April 81,
when the thermometer registered 81,
| half a degree below the average for
1 the state Ottumwa's coolest day was
4 April s, when the temperature was rs
4 degrees. Clarinda, on April 20, was
4 the hottest place in the state with, a
. mark of Sc degrees, and Keokuk has
a low record Of degrees for April 8.
The month of April was slightly
1 cooler and much drier than usual, the
4 abnormal conditions prevailing for the
most part through the first and second
decades. The last decade was season
4 ably warm, and copious showers miti-
gated the protracted drouth. The
i worst features of the month were the
! frequent dust storms and strong gales,
> which caused considerable damage to
Windmlls, trees and light structures,
: and wrought some damage to newly
: seeded grain crops in exposed 1ocali-
q ties, by uncovering the grain or blow
ling the loose soil into drifts. The.
conditions, however, were generally
Favorable for field work, and mc'a.
,, than usual progress was made in sc, y
4 ing and preparing the ground for
planting corn. In southern localities
the planters were started about April
% to 80 The termination of small
grain was started by the cold and dry
weather in the first half of the month,
g but there was considerable moisture
5 below the dry, surface to quicken
t growth when the soil became warmer
: during the last decade.
Y At the close of the month the grain
S crops were making fair stand and
the crop outlook was generally promis.
+ ing. The foliage and bloom on fruit
y trees appeared very near the normal
n period. There was fair prospect for
apples, plums and cherries. but peach
l. buds were not in evidence, and the
n smaller fruits did not give promise OF
II full average crops. Pastures and
e meadows were late in starting, but
/ the growth was fairly good at the close
of April. On the whole, the crop sea
son made favorable start, and farm
/ work has been more than usually fa
i IYorea by.r.wsather conditions.