The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-28
STORY OF STORMS
Big Twisters Start Near Japan
and Die in Siberia.
They Cross Boundless Pacific to
United States.
BREAK IN ROCKIES.
At Great Mountains Courses
Sometimes Change.
Weather Bureau Studying Con.
ditions in All Parts.

The difficulty IN making weather
predictions a week ahead as the
weather bureau is now doing. with
more or less regularity, lies in de-
termtning whether or not the storms,
which enter the United States on the
northwest will sweep straight across
the country, as they do part Of the
time, or turn south and pass over the
central valley and then heading to-
wards the great lakes. sweep down the
St Lawrence river into the Atlantic
ocean According to local weather
bureau officials, constant effort is be-
ing made TO overcome this difficulty,
but It is a hard one to work against
The storms which form outside the
United States and cause trouble in this
country come from the northwest.
Usually they start in or near Japan
and crossing the Pacific, enter the
United States through the state of
Washington. coming from the west or
northwest The journey is then straight
east until the Rocky Mountains are
crossed Then the storms turn south
-somettnes-and at other times 90
On east.
Affected by Atmosphere.
Whether the storm continues east
or turns south IS not due to local con-
ditions as might be imagined. but
depends entirely upon atmospheric
conditions in the Pacific ocean Ex-
act conditions in the Pacific the wealth
er bureau officials are striving at all
times TO learn And that they are sue
ceeding is shown by the fact that half
of the time the weather bureau is
making predictions for the week and
the predictions come true.
Besides the wireless stations on ev-
cry vessel in the United States navy
on which observations are made daily
at noon and reported promptly to
Washington, there are weather sta
tions in central Asia. all over Europe,
in the Sandwich Islands. Canary Is
lands. Iceland. and at Sitka, Nome.
Tamana and Valdez. Alaska. Then
southern Canada is dotted with {. s.
weather bureau stations, some of
which were established by 7. B. Jen-
| niugs ef the local weather Office
Die in Siberia.
Experiments in the weather work
tugs have proven certain things. And
every bit of knowledge gained is use
full in predicting weather II has been
learned that atmospheric conditions
which cause storms are generated in
Siberia, while the storm itself is US
| ualIy started near japan And storms
always die in Siberia The storms
move from japan around the world
and usually do not die until they have
crossed the Atlantic, traversed Europe
Of the immense mountain range along
southern Asia, there is no warm air
to mix with the cold, no whirIing mo-
ton results and the storm dies be-
cause there is nothing for it to feed
upon
! It has also been learned that in
| creasing pressure on the Atlantic ocean
means hot weather for the United
| States. The unexpected bad weather
| on inauguration day of last year was
| caused by the collision of a high and
/ low area of barometric pressure
| The weekly forecast has not yet
/ been perfected. but IS nearer every
| year Sooner or later these forecasts
will be made regularly and with pre-
/ ctsiou- Even now the weather bu-
reau is working upon plans TO predict
| a season ahead One of the hardest
| workers on the long distance forecast
1 was E B. CARROT OF the Washington
| weather bureau station, who died re-
/ Gently
As to storms originating in this
| country the weather bureau is pretty
/ thoroughly acquainted with them
/ For instance, southern Colorado and
( the Texas Panhadle are the greatest
breeding places for storms in this
I country A storm in this section al
| ways means rains for Kansas And
so the weather bureau IS at II, try
| tons for the season. whether II vii
be hot or cold. dry or wet but the
| principal thing is to be able TO tel
| whether the storms coming in from tht
outside will travel straight east O.
turn south through the United states
Lone Distance