The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-07
THEODORE DAY
ON WEATHER
The Worst Weather Ever
Had In January
FOURTEEN DAYS OF ZERO
WEATHER - THE SEVERE
CHANGES HAD A BAD EFFECT
ON ALL LIVING THINGS.

" Bad January. Worst ever
knew" Such, in the estimation of
Theodore Day, the weather wizard Of
the Dyberry, who dropped into the
Citizen office, on the morning OF
Candlemas Day, and who has kept
the county weather records for the
past hfty-seyen years, was the kind
of weather prevailing in the shire
during the first month of 1912.
There was fourteen days of
zero weather in January. Most OF
any record | got. Most all of them
were in the first part of the month.
Such changes had a terrible effect on
all living things. Add those zero
days together, and it amounts to lot
for January. Compared with one
year ago, there were but two zero
days in January 1911"
What do you think of the Ground
Hog superstition?'
There is nothing in It, That is
not for this region, because we al
ways have, and always expect six
weeks more of winter weather. In
my boyhood days, it was always ST.
Valentines Day, when they figured
on what kind of a Winter we would
have after that. No, there won't be
any big billiards. this Winter. l
look for zero weather the latter part
TO this month. | don't look for near
as bad weather in February and
March. January was unusual. 1t
was the coldest January on my rec
ord.
Two crusts on the snow prevent
ed ice from freezing thick on our
ponds around here. 1t also protected
our meadows.
Sometimes the weather will get
running in grooves. The rainfall
gradually increases for seven years,
then it decreases for seven years
ourteen years apart we'll have dry
seasons and then wet. We've had
three or four dry seasons. It's apt
to come lesser, until We get floods
again.
We're having what you would
call an old-fashioned Winter. The
springs are nearly all polluted now.
Wells of long standing are pretty
sure TO be polluted. | haven't taken
a drink of water directly from well
since 1876. Then | suffered terribly
in consequence. l got a touch OF
malarial fever"
Following is Weatherman Days
record for January 1912:
January snow compared SO years,
1912, four days and trace eight days,
ten inches; 1911 only one inch. For
this winter to date, Feb. l, total 19
inches, to 80 inches same time last
year. Most snow in January, 35 in
ches in 1882; average 149 inches
for 50 years. January Rainfall-42
years-rain and melted snow, 1912,
five days with trace eight days; total
1.31 inches. Last year, 1911, ten
days and trace six days was 1.79 in
ches. Most on my record was in
1910, 3 days and trace four days,
6.2O inches; and least is half-inch in
1872; average 3.O7 inches for 43
years.
January temperature Highest
this year 18th, As degrees; 27th, last
year fifty degrees. 21st, 1906, was
highest record. Ga degrees. Lowest
was 18th, % below zero; last year
18th, was two below zero. Lowest
on all my records for 50 years was
3Oth, 1878, below zero 80 degrees.
Daily range varied from four degrees
fifth, to "a degrees second and l4th;
average 1916 degrees. Warmest day
23d, mean "a degrees, and coldest
day l4th, mean twelve degrees be-
low zero. Mean for month III de-
grees is coolest January in At years.
Last year PAS degrees. Warmest
1890, mean 31.6 degrees. Average
47 year 2 degrees. Seven days were
clear, twelve fair and twelve cloudy;
average Al per cent OF sunshine.
Last year 80. Prevailing winds north
west.