The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-03
(By the Associated Press.)

New Yo:k. Oct 3.-The old
spheroid, known as the earth, is
emerging from what some human
diagnosticians might call a severe at
tack of meteorological mumps. 1t has
been accompanied by an intermittent
fever, manifested in worldwide heat
wave of unusual length and intensity.
In spite of crises and relapses earth
quakes tidal waves, cloudbursts, ty-
phoons, waterspouts, hailstorms, floods
and hurricanes in many widely sepa-
rated parts from Kamchatka to Cape
Horn and from Guam to Guadalupe
the doctors are confident the patient
will recover.
Heat Waves in United States.
Meanwhile the United States for the
last year has been suffering chiefly
from an excess of high temperatures
and a deficiency of moisture, con-
dition unprecedented in the fifty years
history of the weather bureau. From
January 1 to September %. last. the
temperature of New York City. which
is typical of the country, has shown
an aggregate excess of warmth OF
$50 degrees above normal, while there
has been a shortage of 6.f1 lncnes IN
rainfall. The greatest amount OF sep
tember precipitation was in 1852,
when more than 14h inches fell, ana
the least for that month occurred Two
years later with only fifteen nun
dredths of an inch.
The persistent higher temperatures
for which a number of speculative ex-
plantations have been given began in
August 1920 and for the succeeding
twelve months there was an average
monthly excess above normal OF o.
degrees March, 1921, an unusually
warm spring month, had an excess
average of 1913 degrees. The first
s1ipht break in the record occurred
last August, which was slightly below
normal.
Temperatures Above Normal.
Some time before the present phe-
nomenon, the nine months period pc
ginning in October, 1918, and endlng
in July. 1919. the average montnly
+ennerature was 2.71 degrees above
norrnal- and this was a record 'until
sunspots, seabottom upheavals or otn-
or hypothetical causes sent the mer-
curv still higher. The highest aver
age temperature ever recorded IN TINS
country for the month OF March,
weather officials say was 4S-S IN
March, 1921.
The average temperature for April,
l192l-55 degrees-was the Warmest
! for that month in half century. May
and June were not unusual, but July
broke all records for the preceolng
! eleven years. A curious freak OF the
weather in America for the week. eno-
ling Septen Der %. was that, while every
section of the country from Bismarck
IN D., to Halifax, and from Phoenix
! Ariz TO Miami, Fla, was suffering
from abnormally high temperatures
large areas in Wyoming, Montana
/ oregon, and Nevada were having freez-
: ing nights.
| Weather Sharps Won't Discuss.
Weather bureau officials here de-
| cIined to discuss the possible connec-
| t.on between the present high temper
| atures and disasters of nature in many
parts of the world. 1t was recalled
| however. that when the volcanic erup-
/ ton of Krakatoa, a small island IN the
! Malay archipelago in the Sunda strait
| between Sumatra and Java, occurred
! in the summer of 1888. the most vio-
| lent of its kind in modern times. two
| thirds Of the island was blown away.
10000 persons perishing and tidal
wave propelled itself as far as the
English channel. On this occasion
dust from the volcanic ashes was car
! ried around the world and for days In
many parts cool temperatures pre-