Reading the Weather Part 6

These questions are only samples. Many certainties can be attained by merely complete observations over a longer period of time, others by new systems of observations that await a more generous appropriation. Even the upper air investigations on Mt. Weather, Va., have had to be curtailed. The Bureau's record has proved it efficient, of enormous benefit to the country, and deserving of the encouragement instead of the depreciation of every citizen.

WHAT THE WEATHER FLAGS MEAN.

In every city the Bureau causes flags to be flown from some prominent place so that a glance may show s.h.i.+ppers and everybody who may be concerned at the shortest possible notice just what the approaching weather conditions are.

A plain white flag means fair weather.

A black triangle stands for temperature and is always exhibited with some other flag. Its relative position, either above or below indicates higher or lower temperature. Therefore white flag with the black below means fair and colder. The white flag with the black above means fair and warmer.

A white flag with a black square in the center means a cold wave.

A blue flag means either rain or snow.

The blue with the black above would mean rain or snow and warmer.

The blue with the black below would mean rain or snow and colder.

A blue and white flag means a local shower. The same meanings are attached to the black triangle in connection with the blue and white.

A red triangle indicates a dangerous local storm, is called the information flag meaning that s.h.i.+ppers should apply to the Bureau for news of the direction in which the storm is travelling.

A red square with a black center means severe winds.

1. Southwesterly with a white triangle below.

2. Northwesterly with a white triangle above.

3. Northeasterly with a red triangle above.

4. Southeasterly with a red triangle below.

OUR FOUR WORLD'S RECORDS,--AND OTHERS.

Maximum Temperature United States, 134 at Greenland Ranch, Cal., July, 1913.

World, 134 at Greenland Ranch, Cal.

Minimum Temperature United States, -65 at Miles City, Mont., January, 1888.

World, -98 at Verkhojansk, Siberia.

Absolute Zero of s.p.a.ce -459 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maximum Annual Precipitation United States, 167.29 inches at Glenora, Oreg., in 1896.

World, 905.1 inches, Cherrapunji, India, 1861.

Maximum Monthly Precipitation United States, 71.5 inches at Helen Mine, Cal., January, 1909.

World, 366 inches, Cherrapunji, India, July, 1861.

Maximum 24 Hour Precipitation United States, 21 inches at Alexandria, La.

Minimum Annual Precipitation United States, none at Bagdad, Cal., in 1913. (Only 3.93 inches fell at Bagdad during period 1909 to 1913, inclusive.) Maximum Annual Snowfall United States, 786 inches at Tamarack, Cal., 1911.

Maximum Monthly Snowfall United States, 390 inches at Tamarack, Cal., January, 1911.

Maximum Wind Velocity United States, 186 miles per hour at Mt. Was.h.i.+ngton, on Jan. 11, 1878. (Much higher velocities have undoubtedly occurred in tornadoes, etc., but have not been susceptible of instrumental measurement.) THE END.