The New York herald., 1921-05-01
BY E. B. (FARMER) DUNN.

BY E. B. (FARMER) DUNN.
TORECASTING the weather is one
II feature of meteoroogy which requires
- long study. perseverance and years
of practical experience For these reasons
there are few men who ever attain anywhere
near satisfactory work-never perfection
Meteorology is not an absolute science. and
never can be. In fact, there has been
actual Improvement in forecasting the
weather in the last twenty-five years.
The same empirical methods now employed
are those introduced by Gen. Myer "Od
Probabilities" fifty years ago.
There are always so many elements of
doubt that man to grasp the situation Of
the daily changes and combinations must
really be imbued with intuition to be
cessful
1t is one of the most interesting subjects
in the range of literature and should receive
the attention it deserves by men qualified
by experience
There are few rules that may serve to
make clear the movements of general storms
and may be found valuable.
The general movement of storms in the
United States is from west to east; they are
termed areas of low pressure, or cyclonic
storms and areas of high pressure anti
cyclonic storms, although the wind force of
an anti-cyclonic storm is in many cases o.
greater velocity than the cyclonic. Cyclones
travel at from twenty miles to one hundred
miles an hour, but the rotary motion may
reach one hundred to two hundred miles
an hour.
The winds always blow toward the cyclone
centre. and the storm area is attended by
warmer weather and rain or snow, according
TO the season. The anti-cyclone, which fol-
lows the cyclone is an area of high pressure,
with the winds blowing out from the centre,
and is attended by clearing or clear weather
and colder in winter by cold wave.
On the approach of a storm the winds blow
from an easterly direction. the storm
centre passes a point 10 the north of you
the winds shift by the south to the west and
northwest II the storms centre passes
south of YOU the wind backs to the north,
then northwest
Following are some proverbs. given for
what they are worth, because the traditions
and supersttions of the antiques are still
interesting:
Old mythology is called upon to empha-
size the proverb that "dolphins or porpoises,
around a ship is a sign of rain
The appearance of sea NEW is indica-
ton of rain
Geese rubbing down and dressing their
feathers is a good sign of fair weather II
the geese keep away from the water, look
out for a good old fashioned storm.
When geese feed and finally go to the
water the weather will be clear.
The frightened cry of geese means rain
coming
Boosters are said to clap their wings in
an unusual manner before rain, and hens
rub in the dust and seem very uneasy.
Cats with their tails up and hair APP
parentIy electrified Indicate approaching
wind
Bees remain in their hives preceding
rain.
Swallows nv low before approaching rain.
seagulls nv about the when the
weat ather Is fair and disappear on the ap-
proach of rain or stormy weather or fly over
the land.
Petrcls ay 10 the sea before a storm and
remain over the sea till the storm passes.
cats rub their ears when 1t is likely to
rain because moist air is charged with cleo
tricity which produces an itching sensation
When sheep lie around and are unwilling
70 go to pasture il is a good sign of rain
damn Air makes them listless and drowsy.
Magpies flying in nocks and uttering harsh
cries foretell windy weather
Before rain fowl oC ali kinds make unusua.
noises.
Before rain horses neigh cattle low,
asses bray and sheep beat because damp
ness reaxes their nerves and they feel rest
less