The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-02-21

It is of interest to note that while
Brest, on the western coast of France,
has about the same latitude as Devils
Lake, N. D., the average January tenn
peratufe at Brest is "A, while at Dew
lis Lake it is about zero. Greater var
iations are shown in the extremes,
where for the vicinity of Brest the
lowest observed winter temperature
probably does not reach zero, while
readings of nearly 60 degrees below
have been observed in the vicinity OF
Devils Lake. On the other hand, ow-
ing to the less rapid cooling of the
ocean waters as compared with the
land, the ocean winds of summer are
cooler than those from the land, and
in July the average temperature Of
Brest is only Ga degrees, while at
Devils Lake it is about 68.
The outstanding features of the
temperature of the countries of west.
ern Europe are the comparatively
warm winters for such high ATTITUDES
and the relatively cool summers. Along
the coasts of northern France and of
Belgium temperatures are very SINH
lar to those experienced on our own
northern Pacific coast the average
monthly temperatures at Dunkirk, and
at Seattle, being identical for nearly
half the months of the year and differ
ing only slightly for the other months.
Farther south over the Atlantic coast
districts Of France the temperatures
turnout the year resemble those Of the
coasts Of southern Oregon and north.
ern California, and during the winter
months the averages are not material
ly different from those of the Carolina
and Georgia coasts, but in the latter
districts temperatures have greater
variation from day to day and the ex-
tremcs are decidedly more pronounced.
Summer in northern France and
Belgium is cool, as compared with
most of the United States, the aver
age temperature for July and August,
the warmest months, being 63 to 65,
even lower than along our northern
border. Moderately hot weather some
times occurs, but extremely high tenn
peratures, such as are occasionally
experienced in this country, are un-
known in France and Belgium. In
most of northern France and in Bel
eium temperatures as high as 100 de-
grees have never been reported, while
in the United States 100 to ITO have
occurred generally, except in the
higher mountain districts and along
portions of the coasts. The daily max
imum temperatures in northern France
and Belgium in midsummer are usual
" less than 80 and the minimum less
that 60 degrees.
From a standpoint of bodily COM
fort the climate of northern France
and Belgium may be briefly summar-
lied as follows: The winter weather
is rather rigorous and unpleasant, due
to the persistence of comparatively low
temperatures, much cloudiness and
frequent rain and snow. The winds
blow mostly from the west or south
west and are frequently damp and
chilly, the relative humidity being
rather high. The winter nights are
long and the days CORRESPONDENCE
short. In the extreme northern part
of France, near the present battle line
the sun sets during the latter half of
December, few minutes before a D.
M, and rises about a. m.,- making
the nights, sunset to sunrise, about 16
hours long.
With the transition from winter into
| Spring, the rapid warming up fa,mil-
lar to residents in most sections of the
United States, is not so noticeable in
France and Belgium, the average tenn
perature for March being only 2 to 4
degrees higher than for February.
/ April and May are moderately cool
and not unpleasant, the length of the
day increases much more rapidly than
, in most sections of the United States,
and there is correspondingly large
increase in the amount of sunshine,
while rainfall is comparatively light,