Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-29
THEWEATHERIN MARCH
RECORD KEPT BY BUREAU FOR
THIRTY-THREE YEARS.
Chart Issued Showing Degrees Of Tenn
perature, Precipitation and the
General Conditions.

Ine weather bureau mas issued Tor gen.
eral information a chart showing the
weather for the month Of March for the
past thirty-three years, which, although II
might have some bearing on the weather
that will prevail through the coming
month, the officials do not wish to have
taken as a forecast for March, 1904.
The mean or normal temperature during
the thirty-three years has been Al degrees
The warmest month was that of 1908. when
the temperature averaged 80 degrees; the
coldest month was that in 1885, when ar
average of "a degrees was maintained; the
highest temperature ever reached in March
was March %, 1894, when the thermometer
registered SO degrees; the lowest tempera
ture was on March 4, 1873, and is reported
as having been 4 degrees above zero.
The average precipitation for the month.
rain or melted snow, in thirty-three years,
was 4.l0 inches; the average number of
days when there was .O1 of an inch or more
was twelve; the greatest precipitation was
So4 inches, in 1891 and the least was 9S, in
1884; the greatest precipitation ever record
ed for twenty-four hours in March was
March 8, 1881. when there was 279 inches
of rainfall; the greatest amount of snowfall
ever recorded in twenty-four hours In
March was ten inches, March 15, 1900. The
average number of clear days In the month
has been nine; partly cloudy days, eleven;
cloudy days, eleven. The prevailing wind
has been from the northwest; the average
hourly velocity Of the wind was 86 miles;
the highest velocity was forty-eight miles
from the northwest on March "a, 1873
March is supposed to be the beginning of
spring. AS matter Of fact the records for
the past thirty-three years show that the
average date Of the last killing frost, which
really shows the end of winter, has been
April g. and that in the year 1874 killing
frosts were felt as late as April -
Record Breaking Winter.
The winter which theoretically ends to-
day the weather experts admit has been
one of the most remarkable this country
has ever experienced. 1t has been one OF
the coolest on record. and is at least the
coolest for the past thirty years. The
average daily temperature for the past
winter months has been 26is degrees. The
coldest temperature of any winter hereto
fore recorded in this vicinity was 21b de-
grees, placed against the winter of 1S74-'70.
The total snowfall during this winter has
been 27.9 inches. and there has been great
suffering among the poor caused by the
extreme and continuous cold and the high
price of provisions. Pneumonia and pull
monary diseases have been unusually prev
alent.
The Conditions Today.
us the winter over?" was a question
asked of the weather bureau officials this
know whether 1t is over or not, or when
they may predict with safety; but the chief
forecaster remarked that he did not think
the end had been reached.
DO you see another cold wave comlng2'
he was asked
There are no present indications Of an
other cold wave," he said. But he con-
tinued hurriedly, anything might turn up
next week. We can only look a few days
ahead"
What about the weather we are having
today?"
"Oh, this will last for two or three
days.
do you mean it will rain during this
time?'
mo, that 1t will be rainy"
From the above questions and answers 1t
can be gathered that the official weather
makers are inclined to be reticent. That
they did not want to take the risk Of
making a forecast was quite evident. 1t is
evidently one of those intermediate periods
that the people have to deal with, when
there is not great deal Of anything do
ing" and to save their lives the bureau
officials can not find out what will be
doing farther ahead than a couple Of
days.
Something was asked them about the
kind of a March to expect, but they did not
appear to know anything about that. either.