Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-18
Storm Movements
aARRETT p. sERYIss.

- aARRETT p. sERvIss.
MANY people confuse the motion OF the storm
11 as a whole with the circulation Of wind in
side the storm. The storms with which the
weather forecasts deal, coming across the CONT
nent, are technically known as cyclones. They
embrace an area often 900 miles or more across.
Within this area the winds have general circu-
lation around center" which is the region OF
lowest barometric pressure, toward which all the
winds incline in spiral lines.
The direction Of rotation OF the cyclone is
backward" or against the hands of a watch, in
the northern hemisphere, and with the hands OF
a watch in the southern hemisphere. This arises
from the effects Of the earth's rotation on its
axis. The forward motion Of the entire storm or
cyclone, resembles that of an eddy in water. II
invariably has an eastward direction, tending
toward northeast This, too, is primarily due to
an effect Of the earti's rotation, but many intlu-
ences enter into the determination Of the precise
direction OF the forward movement. However, no
storms ever cross the continent from east to west
AS storm arrives from the west or south
west, the first OF It's eircling, in-drawing winds
come from southeast and east, although the
storm as a whole is moving eastward. As the
storm progresses il the center passes north OF the
place where you are, the winds will gradually
swing round through south to southwest, beeom-
ing west after the passage OF the center. II the
center passes south Of you, the winds will SWING
round through northeast TO north and northwest.
The approach OF the storm is announced by
gloomy, "neuralgie," muggy weather changing to
rain as the central area draws near.
After the trough" which Is an imaginary
line through the center, at right angles to the
course has passed, the sky begins to clear, and
cooler, bracng weather arrives. These are the
general features Of cyclonic storm, subject to
variations in detail.
Our weather bureau ought to be the best in
the world--as perhaps II is--because the United
States present peculiarly favorable area for the
study Of the march Of storms, where their pro-
grcss can be followed for days III succession.
There is no known land where the progressive
motion OF great storms is SO rapid and regular
as Il is within our territory. Then We have what
some may regard as a very dubious advantage IN
the fact that nowhere at least upon land, are the
violent whirling storms known 40 tornadocs 50
easily studied In all Of their details as IN our CEN
trail west and southwest
These terrific storms have recognized rela.
ton with passing cyclones They usually form
along the southeastern quadrant OF cyclonc dis
turbance. Like cyclones they generally move
northeasterly, although the motion Of some IS
resembling the trunk Of giant elephant, let down
from the clouds arc familiar images OF terror.
Fortunately their course is short, IRON one
TO fifty miles, and the width OF their track OF de-
struction averages only from 100 to 600 yards.
Moreover experience has taught methods OF pro-
lection and refuge which have greatly decreased
the number Of fatalities caused BY them. But when
a tornado is once fully started there is nothing 10
do except TO run out OF its track, which cool
1ff he ali n
psh, or to get underground in Cyclone Gel.
lar"
Ii has been suspected, but not proved, that
tornadoes are more frequent and violent during
maximum periods OF sun spots, when the electro
magnetic impulses transmitted from the sun to
the earth are apparently augmented
The story OF tornsdoes is one OF the most
thrilling chapters in natural history. Their freaks
arc almost demon-like in ferocty and eaprcious-
ness They stalk over the land like sentient crea-
lures bent upon destruction. Sometimes one will
drink up a pond al single gup. whole town
NAV be destroyed almost in a moment or sud
den turn OF the swaying monster may spare
threatened farm or village.
On the 9th day OF February, 1884 there swept
between Mississippi and Virginia an invading
host Of tornadoes sixty in number, whose career
was like that OF a fleet OF submarines IN
crowded harbor Their tracks were parallel and
sometimes they raced side by side, and some
times broke into view one after another. Missis-
sipoi Georgia. Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois,
South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia all
suffered from the rush OF these bowling demons
OF the air. -,
aon that disastrous day" says General A. w
C;recly, "over 10000 buildings were DESTROYED ooo
people were killed. and $500 wounded The ey-
clone TO which these terrible auxiliaries were at
tached passed gently across the northern states
enveoped in mist and rain, like batuesnp
swa,hed in the smoke of its tunnels, but not FIR
ing gun!