Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1911-01-27


ing November, but In December and
January the average Is go or slightly
below IN the northern portion. While
February is not the coolest month,
Judged by aveaage temperature, yet the
most severe cold waves have occurred
during that month"; except in the south
ern portion of the state, where tao
coldest weather usually takes place
during January. The lowest tempera.
ture ever recorded in the district is IA
degrees al Inverness, which occurred
in February, 1899, Yearsof widespread
disaster to fruits and vegetables were
January, 1886, December, 1894, and Feb
ruary, 1895 and 1889, which compre-
bend the extreme condition that have
prevailed during the fundamental Pc
period, 1871 to 1907. Authentic data,
however, covering a period Of about so
years, antedating 1871, show that severe
cold waves occurred in 1926 and 1857.
Frost may be expected over the up
per and central portions srom the lat.
ter part Of November to March, inclus-
i've, rarely severe, however, before De-
cember and January, and it is not in
frequent that winters pass without
damaging frost aud such is the rule
over the southern portion Of the dis.
trict. 1t may be we'll to add, however,
that the frost line" probably extends
to the southern limits of the Florida
mainland under extreme conditions,
The only portions of the Sections ex-
empt from frost are FLORIDA Keys"--
the islands jutting into the ocean and
gulf from the southern borders Of Dade
and Monroe counties.
PREoIPITATIoNs,
The records of precipitation cover
varying periods, ranging from less than
a decade to thirty years or more. In
many cases the fragmentary records
have been completed by utilizing the
data from nearby stations and estlmat-
ing therefrom the probable amount for
the missing period.
In practically every section of the
district there have been daily falls Of
8 to 10 inches, monthly falls Of 20 to 30
inches, and annual amounts ranging
from slightly more than 20 inches, to
80 inches, and In few instances the
annual total Appropriated 100 inches.
AS against this record, however, there
is the possibility OF the monthly total
being no more than trace during oc-
casional drouths. The annual precipi-
tation is greatest on the southeast coast
that portion of the peninsula being
In or nearest the most frequent track
Of tropical disturbances. From the re-
gion of maximum amount the rainfall
northward to something less
than so inches in the northeastern por-
ton OF the district and less than 40
inches 10 the extreme south portion.
While the seasonal contrast of rain
lall is not so pronounced as it is in some
sections of the western part of the
it indicates relatively dry and
vet seasons. The period of greatest
'ainfall begins over most of the district
n June, and terminates with Septem-
Der, except on the southeast coast
where, owing to the frequency OF trop,
cal disturbances, the period OF heavy
.ainfall extends into October. The dry
seasons, when the monthly amount
'anges from l to slightly more than
inches, sets in over most of the district
a October and. with little variation,
continues until May. The wet June on
he south and southeast coast Is follow
d by less precipitation during July and
August, except In portions Of Monroe
ounty, where the heaviest fall is noted
uring the latter month. On the west
cast there is a progressive increase IS
rule from June till August April
I'D November are generally the dryest
lonths Of the year, except that Decem-
or is dryer than November over por-
Ions OF the south and southeast coasts.
)uring the wet months the amounts
ange from 8 to more than 10 inches.
Precipitation OF OF an inch or more o.
urs on an average Of about every
,urth day during the dry season on
ne south coast, and somewhat more
on the east and west coasts
nd in the north central portions OF the
eniusula. The rainy days become