Catoctin clarion., 1918-04-11
An April Blizzard.
Four Days Rain, Snow, Hail
And Northeast Wind.

Beginning early Monday morning, this
week, the weather conditions for half OF
the week have been most disagreeable,
perhaps worse than at any time during
the winter.
Monday all day and night and Tuesday
morning rain fell moderately and was
driven by strong wind from the north
east. Snowfakes began fitting about
Tuesday afternoon, theltemperature TAX
ing a drop, and by night the top OF the
mountain was covered with snow. 1t is
stated that on the mountain top snow
fell all day. The snow, rain and wind
continued during Tuesday night and We'd
nesday. Much of the snow melted as it
fell, but several inches collected on the
mountains to the west of Thurmont.
Reports of the storm in Wedne sday
morning papers are as follows:
Frederick, Md, April lO-Niagara Falls
looked like sprinkling can beside the
near-cloudburst which centered over this
section of the State Monday night, yes
terday and last night. Not since August
9 has so much rain fallen in "a hours. On
this day there was precipition of 1856
inches. Yesterdays precipitation up to
6. 80 o'clock was 1.75 inches.
The Hagerstown and Frederick electric
road was completely tied up after b
o'clock. The Middletown car which left
Frederick at 9 O'Clock was unable to 60
beyond Fulmer's on account of sleet. 1t
took nearly an hour and half to return
to the city where passengers for Middle
town remained over night. The car that
left Hagerstown for this city at about
o'clock had not arrived at IL o'clock.
The trolley wire was completely encased
in ice and traffic was at a standstill.
Winchester, Va, April 9.-Blizzard
like weather has held the Shenandoah
Valley in lis grip since early today. Snow
was still falling late tonight. 1t melted
in the streets, but covers fields and lawn
to depth of about three inches. Fruit
growers are counting on brisk west winds
to prevent killing frost. Hundreds OF
newly planted gardens are buried under
snow.
Lynchburg. Va, April 9.-The Blue
Ridge Mountains west of Lynchburg, are
covered with snow At times today the
snow almost reached blizzard proportions.
Cumberland, Md. April 9.-Three
inches of snow fell today at Evitts creek
few miles outside of Cumberland, and
intermittent snow flurries occurred in
the city Reports from Thomas, W. Va,
on the Western Maryland Railway state
that there four inches of snow in that
locality.
Hagerstown, Md, April Snow fell
here today but melted as it fell. Fruit
growers are apprehensive OF a severe
freeze following the storm which would
greatly damage the fruit, as cherry,
peach, plum, apricot and pear trees are
in full bloom.
Lancelot Jacquez, fruit expert, stated
if there were several days of rain when
the buds are ready for pollenization, the
entire crop may be lost. Last weeks
frosts did much damage in low land or
chards. Jacquez estimates the Midvale-
Edgemont belt will produce 40 per cent
of this years crop, the Smithsbuog belt,
SO per cent and the Rohrersville-Keedys-
vile belt full crop.
Richmond, Va, April "a cold wave
prevailing in the mountains of Virginia
has damaged fruit trees and retarded
farm work generally. Snow fell today
in the mountains.