Laurel outlook., 1947-08-06
WEATHER BEARS
ON L|FE'S ACTIVITIES

The annual weather cycles of a
community or region appear to have
a definite effect on the areas flora
and fauna, and consequently on the
vocations, habits and economy of its
human inhabitants, Leland T. Pierce,
officer in charge of the U. S. wealth
er bureau at Billings who spoke
here Tuesday at a meeting of the
Rotary club. He was presented by
DR.. D. A. Nottingham of the Au-
gust program committee. Because
of the influence of the weather, the
here is a grass country with
stock raising as one of the basic
native industries, while the Kalispell
district with a different temper
ature and rainfall record is a timber
country and a producer of lumber,
a basic industry.
Pierce said the records show April,
May and early June are apt to have
abundant rainfall here, followed in
July and August by a dry spell.
Grass grows abundantly in spring
and then quickly cures, forming a
rich and valuable food for livestock.
Laurel and Billings are in the
northern plains area, west of a zig
Tag line running south through
North Dakota and successive states
the Mexican border. East of the
inc the annual rainfall increases up
ward from Is inches, while to the
vest the amount decreases until the
Rocky mountains are reached. This
S because most of the water vapor
hat condenses as rain is picked up
y the air over the Pacific ocean.
REVEALING winds are eastward, and
S the air masses move against the
cast range of mountains the air
5 DETECTED upward, the pressure
e%clines, the temperature falls and
ain is squeezed out, to fall on the !
'indward side. The process is re-
as the air meets and passes
yer the series of inland ranges,
-nally arriving over Montana with
major portion of its moisture
4ueezed out. AS a consequence the
late has an abundance of sunshine O
lroughout most of the year, though I
lie coast states and those immed- y
tely inland have much rain from ,
leir overcast skies.
Pierce exhibited maps illustrating W
S statements. One showed that B
aurel and Billings are in a fairly :;
able area of temperatures. The =
,tremes of hot and cold are not =
great as in some other areas. II
MS the speaker attributed to the el
election of nearby mountains,
hich also have something to do T
.th the amount of rain that falls m
The Snowies, Belts, Crates, tie
'artooths and Pryors are factors re
their localities. 10
Although last month there were BIZ
few days when the daytime tenn ar
natures were more than 100 de-
ees the nights cooled off. Sew Sc
ty degrees, which seems to be the at
erage, is just about right for R,
easant sleeping, the speaker said. o.
PCOPlC are OlIcH tlleCIGu III
cold air masses moving down
Canada. Cold air flows much Pc
e water, with mountain ranges 81
wing as bikes. AS a cold front NJ,
ives south it usually moves east viz
10, Pierce illustrated with marks
a map. Northeastern Montana -
often colder in winter, as a result, IL
IN the rest of the state. The
.vre station sometimes has aston
ingly cold figures to report. 1t
an old station, and Pierce seemed
think its reports over the years ~.
re caused residents of other states ,,.it
believe that Montana is very er
gid.
Pierce concluded with saying he BIZ
Montana climate and wealth mi
constitute a natural resource as
t in a way has a dollar and cents He
ue. =