The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-26
MARCH WEATHER
BREAKS RECORDS
FOR BIRMINGHAM
Many Recalled That Yesterday
Was Anniversary of the Big
Tornado Six Years Ago
HOTTEST SPELL EVER
RECORDED LOCALLY
Strangely Enough, the Coolest March
Period Was In 19o6-Groundhog
and Goosebone Declared
False Prophets.

The unprecedented warm weather OF the
present month has given rise TO world
of comment not only locally but all over
the country, and the Oldest inhabitant OF
every section of the United States cannot
recollect the time when the thermometer
previously recorded 30 degrees in March
as it did last Friday.
In many portions of the south and west
the record for March weather has been
broken and all Representations of the
weather for the spring have been upset
and the old reliable weather prophets
have taken back seat.
Yesterday the EXPLANATIONS of "Ain,t
it hot?' were as numerous as on last
Friday and while the temperature did
not rise as high the weather continued
disagreeably warm with no promise of re-
lief from Local Forecaster Lehman who
said that some change might occur with
in thirty-six hours, but he could not
guarantee it.
Anniversary of Tornado.
OF course there were many in BirminS-
nam yesterday who recalled that it was
the anniversary of the big Birmingham
tornador of 1901. 1t is an anniversary
which always has q certain amount of
terror for those who went through the
big storm, even though big storms are
proverbial for never striking in the same
place twice nor on the same date.
The tornado of Tuesday, March 20,
1901, passed over large section of South
Highlands, killing number of people
and laying waste thousands of dollars
worth of property. Scarcely a trace OF
the ravages of the storm can now be
found.
Previous Records Broken.
Forecaster Lehman declared yesterday
that all local records for hot March
weather have been laid in the shade this
month, the highest previous temperature
recorded in March being So degrees, which
was exactly ten years ago
The highest local temperature this
month was last Friday, when 80 degrees
was touched, but the thermometer has
hung around that mark for SO long that
a still greater record has been made in
high average for the month. This aver
age up to date this month has reached 80
degrees, WHICH Is ucSIees 6ic"toA 'i"i'
the hottest March on record, which was
in 1905.
The coolest March on record, locally,
was last year. when the temperature Tor
the month averaged 81 degrees. Last
spring and summer, it will be remem-
bered were wet, while the reverse condi-
tions exist now and promise to continue
for some time.
No Explanation for Hot Weather.
Foreeaster Lehman could offer no ex-
PLANTATION yesterday of the phenomenal
weather, but declares there need be no
"a N as climatic conditions throughout
tie United States, beyond the remarkable
heat are normal and the country, partic-
ularly the south is to be congratulated
that nc severe storms or cyclones have
occurred to cause disaster.
The longest previous hot spell in March
was in 1898 when the temperature from
the 10th to the 23rd was very warm, but
averaged degrees lower than the heat
of the present month. Mr.. Lehman said
that these unusual weather conditions
have existed for a whole year, but he
does not reason from this that a gradual
climatic change is taking place in the
south as many people profess to believe.
He SCOTS at the idea that the earth
quakes of the past year have any con-
neetion with the weather but said that
of course the weather bureau takes cog
nizance of the existence of sun spots and
their supposed influence upon terrestrial
weather.
Does Not Fear Late Frost.
Mr.. Lehman does not believe that any
unusual weather will follow this heated
spell nor does he fear a late frost as
some of the farmers do who have fruit
crops that might suffer. He says that
the indications are that the weather will
develop into summer without any great
atmospheric disturbance and If a cold
wa e should come it would not be fol-
lowed by any disastrous results to the
fruit crop as he declares the surface of
the earth has become so thoroughly heat
ed that killing frost could hardly hap
pen.
The grounding and goosebone have
been entirely put out of business by the
March weather record The grounding
| came cut on February 2, and seeing his