The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-07-14
SYNOPSIS OF
CLIMATE
Government Weather Official
Furnishes Interesting Article
WORTH CONSIDERATION
Maximum Temperature Reached in July
Minimum During January or February
Sunstrokes Unknown in Florida


From an article on the climate of
Southern Florida, written by A. j.
Mitchell of the United States weather
bureau, the following extract is taken.
and the discussion comprises that por-
ton of the Florida peninsula south of
the 29th parallel
Though the summers are long, the
extreme heat even at stations in the
southern portion of the district. is rare
ly 100 degrees. During the warmest
part of the day atmospheric circulation
Is most active, the winds sweeping
across the peninsula from ocean to
gulf, and thereby mitigating in
great measure, the disagreeable Sc
quences of warm days and high humid
lty. The warmest weather occurs dur
ing July and August, when maximum
temperature of 100 degrees or slightly
more, may be recorded at stations in
the interior, The summer temperature
ranges from about 81 degrees, cOntnu-
ing about 80 degrees during September
in the southern portion. AS rule the
October average is from to 8 degrees
cooler than September.
As the last mentioned two months
constitute the period of maximum cy-
clone activity, there are many days
during those months when the wind is
from the north to northeast, thereby
dispelling the feeling of lassitude nat
ural to the season for that latitude.
The mean temperature continues we'll
up in the COS during November, but in
December and January the average is
60 or slightly below in the northern
portion While February is not the
coolest month, judged by average tenn
perature, yet the most severe cold
waves have occurred during that month,
except in the southern portion of the
State, where the coolest weather US
ually takes place during January.
The lowest temperature ever record
ed in Florida is IA degrees at Inverness,
which occurred in February, 1895.
Years of widespread disaster to fruits
vegetables were January, 1886, Deem
Der 1894, and February, 1895 and 1899,
(the later year not reaching south Of
the center of the State,) which COM
prehend the extreme conditions that
have prevailed during the fundamental
period, 1871 to 1907. Authentic data,
however, covering period of about
fifty years, antedating 1871, show that
severe cold waves occurred in 1885 and
1857.
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 esti-'
mating 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 81
inches, and in a few instances, the an
nual aproXimated 100 inches. AS
against this record, however, there is
the possibility Of the monthly total be-
ing no more than a trace during occas-
ional drouths The annual precipitation
is greatest on the southeast coast-that
portion of the Peninsula being in or
nearest the most frequent tract of
tropical disturbances. From the re-
gion of maximum amount the rainfall
northward to something less
than 20 inches in the northeastern por-
ton Of the district, aud less than 40 in
ches i'm the extreme south portion.
While the seasonal contrast Of rain
fall is not so pronounced as it is in
some sections of the western part OF
the country it indicates relatively dry
and wet seasons.
The period of greatest rainfall be-
gins over most of the State in June,
and terminates with September, eX-
cept on the southeast coast where, ow-
ing to the frequency of tropical dis
turbances, the period of heavy rainfall
extends into October.
The dry seasons, when the monthly
amount ranges from to slightly more
than 2 inches. sets in over most OF the
district in October, and. with little var
iation, continues until May.
The wet June on the south and
southeast coast is followed by less pre-
ciptation during July and August, ex-
cept in portions of Monroe county
where the heaviest fall is noted during
the latter MONTH On the west coast
there is a progressive increase as
rule from June until August.
April and November are generally
the. driest months in the year, except
that December is more dry than Nov
ember over portions of the south and
southeast coasts. During the wet
months, the amounts range from 6 to
more than 10 inches. Precipitation of. Oh
Of an inch, or more, occurs ON an aver
age of about every fourth day during
the dry season on the south coast and