New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-03
TIE PROGRESS OF WINTER.

Although the lstest cold wave to reach the
Atlantic Coast was not quite so severe as the
one which arrived a month ago. II would haruIy
| no safe 10 draw any conclusions about the nut
ure from the fact The past may be discussed
with greater certainty. Since the United states
government began making observations NJ the
close OF 1870 only once On 1898 has The average
temperature for January been lover IN N"w-
ycrt CIV than n was this year. and The diner.
eure T. trih.ug ou che former orcasiun -
mean was fraction shove -
--rftef rlan tHaer RI the United states
weather Huroau. tut there are good reasons
Cor uat employing Them in making comparisons.
D. IL r.ssille that iu the course ~ the last
century there were percepubly colder Januaries
thsn the one Just ended. bat II Is evident that
the limit for at least a generation was prac-
tically reached in 1904.
The continuity Of cold weather must be con-
sIdered. as well as the severity OF II for few
weeks. The length Of a winter is highly
important factor Rarely are abnOrmally low
temperatures observed for three consecutive
months out of the six beginning with NoveIn-
Der Only five times in the last thirty four
years has such a record been made in the me-
tropolis and only once did unusual cold persist
for four months. The present winter began
in November. The aggregate deficiency OF
warmth thus far was paTalleled IN the three
months beginning with December, 1850; jan
uary, 1855, and December, 1892. The most re-
markable winter covered by the observations
Of the national government here was that Of
1915 From the opening OF January TO the
close Of April the average temperature was
lower than for a corresponding period at any
time since. Until the returns are in for the
current month no one can affirm that that sea
son is about 10 be matched IN length well ms
intensity but such a contingency cannot be
pronounced impossible. Looking at the matter
from a purely mathematical point 81 view, the
chances are apparently SO TO 1 against dupll-
cation OF the record. The exact truth. though.
VIII not be known for several weeks.
Conditions which prevail over a single local
ity rarely exist over the whole continent. The
abnormal cold Of January was felt in the por-
ton Of the country lying east Of the Mississippi
From a summary just published. however Il
appears that the Northern Rocky Mountains
and the upper Missouri Valley experienced
mild, not severe. weather. Contrasts OF this
kind have been repeatedly observed. In some
instances, indeed, 1t is possible TO trace oppo-
site effects TO the same immediate cause.
Both the drouth I'm the East and the floods in
the Missouri Valley last spring were attrib-
uted TO the obstinacy with which areas Of
high atmospheric pressure fingered over the
Great Lakes. Rainstorms which in the Ordl-
nary course OF events should have crossed the
continent at a speed Of about twenty miles
hour were thus prevented from moving Pre-
cpitation was prolonged in a wonderful fashion
In one region, while another failed to receive
any at all. The INTERPOLATION exhibited in this
case is occasionally detected, or at least sus-
pected, on a much larger scale. Further in
ouiry into its extent and real cause will I'M
questionably be great service to forecasters.