Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-05
NEAR ZERO MARK
Sudden Cold Snap Surprises
People of Washington.
CAME IN ON OHIO BREEZE
Official Forecaster Predicts Lower
Range of Temperature Tonight.
DROP IN MERCURY Is GENERAL
Cities of the West and South in
Freezing Embrace-Eastern
Section Favored.
Weather Bureau Record.

tTeezlnS WeaIneT WIN neaVy nOrtn
west breeze. is promised for tonight. If
the mercury falls TO zero it will be no
great wonder, and the official promise is
that the thermometers will see degrees
above tonight. The cold snap which
stole in last night gave the weather bu-
reau a mild surprise. for the betting up
there was on higher temperature than
that which actually arrived.
The cold spell in Washington today is
a mild one compared to conditio ms in
some of the cities Of the west. The east
is getting off with less frostbites thar
the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. where
zero is comparatively high mark. The
cold which blew into the National Cap
tai came from Ohio, where frosts of all
kinds. political and otherwise. have been
known to thrive. This Ohio brand of
freezing weather surprised every one who
was abroad after IL O'Clock last night. 1t
gave automobilists something 10 thi..k
about, and a woman in a party dress
without sufficient cloak was m.seI able in
deed as long as she remained in the
open air.
Hostilities Open at 10 O'Clock.
The northwest wind which rode on
the advance guard of the frosty wealth
er could not blow the big yellow moon
out of the sky, but it did manage to
send clouds scudding across the face of
1t fast and furious. Even the mat
tentive person heard the cold wave, for
the wind started In to rattle things
about 10 O'Clock. At that hour the Of
cial thermometer at the weather bureau
showed the very respectable tempera-
ture of 80 degrees. When the OHIO
brand Of frost appeared the mercury
showed its contempt and disapproval
by refusing to associate with the wealth
er at all. and attempted TO hide away
in the bulb 1t couldn't quite make Zero,
however, and the marks this morning
showed that it descended twenty good
big degrees, and at 8 o'clock this morn
ing was at the twelve mark.
1t Is going to five degrees and maybe
lower tonight. Ears will burn and feet
will grow numb. all on account OF that
Ohio brand of frost. People living In
to bundle up strong If they attempt the
theaters tonight. and 1t will be a brave
suburbanite who attempts much walk
ing this evening.
Cars Crowded This Morning.
The cold snap amazed people this MORN
ing. Those who have been in the habit
of walking down town thought twice
about it-and then boarded cars, the re-
suit being a crowded condition on many
lines. The cars from Tenleytown and
Rockville were scenes of weather dis
cussion and several Of them carried in
passengers who were treated to an un-
sought cold weather adventure. A brew
cry wagon loaded with the matted stuff
got one wheel firmly Embedded in the soft
earth of the street at Wisconsin avenue
and o street, where repair work is going
on. Cars were blocked for many min
utes. The shivering passengers had
something more to talk about than the
weather when they disembarked and
found themselves held up by a load of
beer. The delay accumulated the cold
spell in the minds of many, but the low
temperature was offset by the heated re-
marks of all who imagined they would
be late for the office.
Freezing in the South.
Freezing weather was recorded last
night as far south as Pensacola. In
the west terrific freezing is the rule.
Ohio Indiana and West Virginia share
the zero weather, while Duluth Mimi.
has the lowest Official temperature in
the United States. little matter of
thirty-five below. In the Canadian
northwest the mercury has contracted
to q point AZ degrees below zero. Other
low temperatures reported are: Grand
Forks, N. D.. "a: Eau Claire, Wis. -:
La Crosse. %: Milwaukee and Madison
Wis, IS: Green Bay. Wis, II. st. Paul
Mimi, registers twenty-six minus. New
York. Atlantic City and Philadelphia
are in the respectable class, with
"above zero" to their credit.
Little snow may be expected in this
cold wave. II any. it will be but a
spit of 1t and won't amount to much