Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-30
APRIL RAINS.
Continued from page ~

April. The mercury at the local wealth.
er bureau registered rs degrees and
thermometers about the city and out
side in Deering and South Portland
went far up into the ninetite. The hot.
test record for April is only 70 degrees.
| made several years ago.
The season continues to fall behind in
temperature and at noon. today, it was 6l5
degrees below the average from January
l. Last year, these same months were
40 degrees ahead, making this year sol
degrees colder than the same period of
| time in 1903. The present month. of Apr,,
| Is so far 30 degrees below the normal
| with little prospect of gaining anv heat
as it has only Saturday in which to make
| up what it has lost.
During the present storm more rain ba c
fallen than during the entire month of
april last year Last season during the
| month only $50, or 2h inches. fell. and
enis was scattered over seven days. There
was less than an inch of rain, last May
and none at all until the latter end of the
month.
reports brought in by railroad men
from up the State are that the storm does
not reach very far east and that on nc
count of the streams and lakes having
been so very low. this spring, the present
rain has done nothing more than bring
them up to normal. There are practical
~ no freshets, although IL the storm con-
tinues there is reason to believe there will
be. The storm has barely reached East
port and only trace, about % of an inch
OF rain. has fallen there. Portland and
Boston are getting practically all of the
rain that is coming.
new record for continuous pre-
cipitation or rain was established at S
o'clock, today, in Boston when the
weather bureau instruments showed
that the all since shortly beore a.
m. Wednesday until today was 4.9G
inches. Although in other months Of
the year there has been as great
continuous fall of rain, never in April
has a doU-npour been so continuous and
SO consideraE Bile. From a. M, Wednes-
day to yesterday morning the precip-
itation was 2.S4 inches. The storm has
been central over the Atlantic Coast
in general way from North Carolina
to New England. Today the indications
We're that the rain was not over yet.
The unusually heavy rains of the last
few days have sent considerable water
down upon Portland and vicinity, and
the rivers hereabOuts have risen con-
siderably since Wednesday noon, al
though not much damage is feared, it
being so late in the season.
Sebago lake has been much lower than
| usual, this spring, and is still very low
in spite of the heavy downfall But for
| this fact the Presumpscot would be much
higher than it is and some damage
would doubtless result. The Presumpscot
today. is perhaps a foot and a half higher
than usual and steadily rising with the
continuous dCwnpour of rain but no dam
age is feared at the towns and cities along
entire length of the river AT Wcstbrook
and at South Windham the mill gates are
open and considerable part of the water
| is thus allowed to go on toward the ocean
| but the river is about two feet higher
| than usual at both places.
Little river is also very high. probably
on account of the width of the stream.
but there is no ice in any part of it and
the water will probably go down with no
resultant damage.
Morn rain in the shape of showers is
predicted by Local Observer Edward p.
Jones in his forecast issued. today. In
this he says:
There has been change in the rea-
tive positions of the high and low areas
hut the highs" are not so marked. to-
day. they were, yesterday.
Rains have been general throughout
| tho lower Lake region and in the middle
and north Atlantic states, reaching as far
north as the st. Lawrence valley. The
greatest rainfall has occurred in Maine
and Massachusetts.
Cloudy weather and showers are indi-
| Gated for northern New England for the
next IS hours and the winds will be light
and fresh nOrtherly.