The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-04
IT WAS UNUSUAL
First Thunder Storm in January
For Six Years.
Followed WarmeSt January 8
On Record in Topeka.
MUCH PROPERTY DAMAGE
Thunder Storms Reported From
Big Area Today.
Little Rain in Western Part of
Kansas.

A thunder storm, accompanied by
lightning, occurred in Topeka early
this morning. This is the first storm
of this nature that has occurred here
during the month of January since
1915 and the second since 1911. Only
ten such disturbances are on record at
the local office of the weather ou-
reau, which has been established
thirty-four years.
This is the first thunder storm that
has occurred in Topeka since Octo-
ber 29.
No Damage Here.
No storm damage was reported
from Topeka or vicinity.
1.-The unusual thunder storm was
caused by a collision of the cold ana
warm Clouds said S. D Flora, state
meteorologist, this morning. This
usually causes precipitation"
The thunder storm early this morn
ing followed the warmest January
on record at the local weather bureau
office. At 2:30 o'clock in the after
noon the temperature reached 81 de-
grees, which is degrees higher than
the previous record, which was Sc in
1898.
The heaviest rain reported from any
Kansas weather station today was AZ
of an inch at Kansas City, Kan. The
rain was confined to the eastern half
of the state.
Mucn OaInaSc Done.
Kansas City, Jan. 4.-Much dam
cilities thru strip of country ex-
tending southwark from st. Joseph,
Mo, to around Oklahoma City, was
reported in dispatches from various
points reaching here today.
The entire area mentioned was
dotted with severe thunderstorms ac-
companied in many places by hail, ac-
cording to p. Connor, weather fore
! caster here. Temperatures generally
fell rapidly during the early morning
hours.
Rain which fell over practically the
whole strip of territory will turn to
! sheet of ice tonight, Mr.. Connor said.
He predicted temperatures of from
five to ten above zero for western
Kansas and from 10 to Is above for
eastern Missouri from st. Joe on the
north to the Ozark region on the
south.
Practically no rain fell in the west
ern half of Kansas last night, Mr. Com
nor reported. Reporting stations from
| that section registered little if any
precipitation. Goodland, Kansas. re-
ported .01 inch and Dodge City re-
ported only "a trace" of rain. Rain
and hail, accompanied by severe winds
was reported from virtually every city
in the storm area. Emporia, Kan.
reported rain measuring .26 inch with
heavy hail. The temperature there
went from sixty to twenty-five. Fort
Smith, Ark, Springfield, Joplin and
st. Joe, Mo-, Wichita. Coffeyville. In
dependence, Winfield. Cherryvale and
many other points reported high winds
with rain. At Cherryvale the streets
were covered with debris and many
small buildings were unroofed.
Big Storm Damage at Joplin.
Joplin, Mo-, Jan. 4.-Damage that
will reach several hundred dollars was
caused here early thiE morning by a
wind and rainstorm. A mile of tele-
phone poles in one section of the city
was blown down, halting street car
| service temporarily. Part of the roof
| of railroad roundhouse was torn off
and windows smashed. The storm last
ed but forty minutes but in that time
Sc inch of rain fell and the tempera-
ture dropped IL degrees.
High Wind at CoffeyviIIe.
Coffeyville, Kan. Jan. A high
| wind of cyclonic velocity and force
swept over Coffeyville about 2:3O
O'Clock this morning, accompanied by
| a heavy rainfall, thunder and light
ming. Much damage was done in the
city and vicinity. the Ozark smelter
| being the heaviest loser. Various por-
tions of the plant were unroofed, a
! part of a brick wall was blown in and
! a metal smoke stack collapsed ana
went thru n roof, striking a bench,
| where number of workmen had been
t eating lunch just a few moments be-
| fore the storm. One smelter workman n
was rendered unconscious when hit by
a flying timber. Many garages and
| other small buildings in the city and
! vicinity were blown down.
rs Inch Rain at Leavcnworth.
| Leavenworth. Kan, Jan. 4.-The
| first rain of measurable quantity in
almost three months fell here early
/ today amounting to rs inch. Farm
ers say that unless hard freeze fol-
| lows the moisture will be a great
I benefit to wheat.
Thunder Storms in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Jan. 4.-Thunder-
storms. accompanied by high wind.
prevailed in many sections of Okla
homa early today. according to an an
nouncement at the United States
weather bureau here. The rainfall
was not sufficient. however. to re-
lieve drouth conditions, 1t was said.
not extending to the west and north
! west portions. where moisture is most
| needed.