Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-01
IDEAL SUMMER RESORT
CONDITIONS IN WASHINGTON THE
PAST THREE MONTHS.
Average Temperature All That Gould
Be Desired-Comforting Statement
From Weather Bureau.

States located on the banks of the historic
Potomac river and conceded by all to be
the most beautiful city in the universe is
an ideal place in which to pass the heated
DAYS of the summer
Should the above appear in the advertis-
ing columns of a daily newspaper, under
the caption of Summer Resorts" 1t would
doubtless be met with soothing, but not
withstanding according to the weather
man. Washington is just what Is described
in the paragraph. The records on file at
the weather bureau In this city show that
during the past few years the average
summer temperature has been very low in
deed. so low that 1t has been matter of
general comment.
The summer which, according to the cal
endar, came to close yesterday was not
an exception to the rule. Taking 1t all IN
all, the past summer was very COOL ana
those persons who in the few warm days
that happened" were disposed to complain
will find by a study of the reports for the
past three months that they growled with
out reason.
1t is said on eminent authority that the
people of the District of Columbia seldom
witness any record breaking in the weather
conditions. AS rule the dark and bright
days come and go in well-proportioned or
der. The precipitation of rain can also be
said to be steady, that recorded during the
past three months being somewhat varied.
In August. however. the rainfall was some
what in excess of the average amount, and
exceeds that in the same month in the past
three years.
Coolest June on Record.
The month of June was the coolest June
on record, the average temperature being
67 degrees. During that month there were
five clear days, ten partly cloudy days.
fifteen cloudy days and sixteen rainy days.
The next coolest June was in 1873 when
the average temperature 60 degrees.
The average temperature during the June
of this year was 5S degrees below normal.
July proved to be the warmest month of
the summer, but when August rolled around
things were evened up, and the summer
closed yesterday as one of the coolest on
record. The temperature during July. at rs
degrees. was IL degrees below normal,
while in August, at - degrees. 1t registered
20 below. A report of the average taken
shows that the temperature during the
summer was 80 degrees below normal,
while for the seven months Of the year
gone. 1t is stated, the temperature was one
tenth degree above normal.
The precipitation during June measured
8GO inches. This was the smallest amount
OF rain that has fallen in that months in
three years. or since 1900 when the rain
fall registered 1904 inches, which was the
greatest precipitation on record. An in
crease in precipitation was noticed in July
and, according to official figures, SIT inches
of water fell The same amount came
down during July, 1901. During August
4o2 inches fell, the greatest precipitation
curing the same month in five years,
since 1898. when SIC inches fell. That rec
ord was only surpassed in 1875, when 1898
inches of rain fell down.
In July 1903, there were 10 clear days 8
partly cloudy 8 cloudy and 9 rainy DAVIS
while in August there were only clear
days, partly cloudy days, IA cloudy DAYS
and IA stormy days. The accumulated ex-
SfnN Ion Los
listers 5O7 inches.
The low temperatures" said Prof Gar
riott of the weather bureau, this afternoon,
ARE due to unusual activity in the move
ments of the atmosphere as shown by
areas of high and low barometric pressures
that have crossed the country. August is
usually characterized by an almost entire
absence of barometric depression or storms
OF marked strength. July and August of
this year have presented exceptions to this
average Of conditions. and the result has
been that rains and windshifts have been
frequent with an unusual prevalence Of
easterly winds, and these abnormal condi-
lions have, in turn. produced in the At
lantic seaboard section an excess of cloudi-
ness and practically cold sea breezes for
easterly winds are sea breezes In this sec
ton.
Effect Of Barometric Pressure.
Continued warm weather requires as
one of its controlling conditions, a stag
mated state of atmosphere and the general
distribution of barometric pressure that
exists during heated periods, as shown on
the weather maps in the form of high bar
ometric pressures which remain nearly
stationary over the southeastern portion of
the United States and an area of low ba-
rometric pressure that occupies the north
east part of the country. This distribution
of pressure maintained for a number Of
days produces southwest winds and clear
weather. No clouds strike the suns rays
during such period and the air becomes
dry and the earth gradually absorbs and
radlates the heat received from the sun;
the nigh temperature continues until some
general and marked change in the distrt-
button OF the atmospheric pressure occurs.
This ideal distribution has not existed dur
ing the present summer and we have not
therefore. experienced prolonged periods of
excessive heat in the Atlantic seaboard sec
ton.
Precipitation is common to this section
The marked precipitation. however does
not necessarily figure largely in producing
warm or cold weather. The frequency of
rain rather than marked amount of pre-
cipitatiOn produces cool weather."