Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-04

| greatly and the barometer will fall to
storm readings on and touching the
thirteenth, with many electrical storms
in transit from west to east. This re-
dictionary period will be within the
mercury brace, as seen by the accom-
panying storm diagram, which fact
will not only add to the intensity of the
disturbances, but will increase the
probability of continued spell of
threatening, stormy weather. Normal
| ly the temperature would fall, the ba-
rometer rise, and cooler, fair weather
appear about the fourteenth to six
Iteenth, and such changes in modified
degrees may appear; but the chances
of continued thunder showers, with
here and there storms Of violent pro-
portions, are good for many days,
reaching into and through the next
regular storm period.
4 The next storm period is central on
the 18th, and the Mercury period is
central on the 18th, SO that the two
periods combine their influences from
the 10th to the 21st. This period is
also near the center of the summer
solstice. embracing the moons peri
gee on the 18th, and also moons at
first quarter and on the celectial equa-
tor on the Goth. All these causes con-
spring within the compass of this
storm period, the chances for general,
heavy and even dangerous storms are
multiplied greatly at this time. The
crisis of this period will fall from
about Saturday the 18th, to Tuesday
| the 21st, the storms centering more
decidedly on and touching the 2Oth
| ct n nd to
plays Of lightning throughout the
nights at this period, and most likely
| for many days through all the central
parts of the month.
1t is well to remember that the
greater part of this summer solstice
lightning-that is, when in the form
of what is known as sheet lightning
is entirely harmless. At this season
banks of summer clouds often float
and hang all round the horizon, in the
evenings and through the nights, emit
ting continuous flashes that illuminate
the night like Fourth of July pyrotech-
MICS. Let no timid, nervous person
suffer uneasiness or painful apprehen-
sion at such displays, as they are not
in the least dangerous The on-com-
ing concentrated thunder storm at this
season is very different, and calls for
all possible prudence. Time and again
have we warned our readers. both in
our almanac and in Word and Works,
against taking shelter under green
trees and other similar places, during
these vicious, nearby thunder storms
| in June Standing or walking in fresh,
moist earth, or riding on horseback, or
in any vehicle forming direct metallic
connection with the ground, are all
equally dangerous in sharp, June
thunder storm. The nearer you can
come to placing perfectly dry wood or
rubber between you and all connection
with the moist earth or air currents,
the safer you will be-
The twenty-third, twenty-fourth and
twenty-ffth are central dates of re-
dictionary storm period. On these days
there will be increased tendencies to
decided storms - higher temperature
falling barometer, growing humidity,
all followed by storms of wind, rain
and thunder. Change to westerly
winds, rising barometer and fair, cool
er weather will come in from the west
and north as the storm areas pass off
to the eastward.
June comes to its close in the midst
of regular storm period. This period
is central on the twenty-ninth, reach
ing from the twenty-seventh to July
the second. On Monday the twenty
seventh the first day of the period the
moon is at full and extreme declination
SOUTH indicating that disturbances of
this period will develop early in the
period and continue with greater or
less intensity for several days. Tie
center of low barometric pressure will
lie to the south inducing northery air
currents and causing cool northerly
to northeasterly rains during most of
this period. over all sections north of
the center Of low barometer.
We have often explained the Pc
cularities of the June solstice storms,
and the physical causes for the same;
but new generations and new readers
call for many and continued repeti-
lions. AT this time our earth is at the
point in her orbit where we may say
she reverses her direction and her
north pole begins to move eastward,
the wind currents become confused
and variable. often driving sudden
thunder gusts and drenching down
pours Of rain up from points of the
compass from which rains do not or
dinarily come Clouds that have
passed to the east often whirl sud-
denly backward unexpected, surpris-
ing and overwhelming unwary locali-
ties with wind and torrents from east
erly directions. Instead of the usual
order - coming up from westerly
points of the compass many of our
hardest rains strike us from easterly
to southeasterly directions during the
solstice period. Fact of the matter is,
barometric depressions are detached
and scattered into narrow segregated
localities and these atmospheric well
holes constitute vacums into which the
nearest passing thunder cloud is sure
to rush, no matter from what direc-
ton.
In the nature of things, June will
bring many showers and some general,
hard rains, to most sections, but we
do not, believe that the rainfalls will
come up to the average, taking the
country as whole. This means, of
course, that some sections will have
a shortage of moisture before the close
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