GENERAL PHENOMENA.

1. Sky becoming overcast with cirro-stratus clouds moving from the southwest, west, or northwest.

2. Increasing haziness, especially in the upper atmosphere after a spell of fair weather.

3. Halos and corona.

4. Variable light wind veering and backing frequently, with a tendency to an easterly direction.

5. Sun setting red among threatening clouds or giving the horizon a greenish tinge.

6. Heavy dews in summer.

7. Driving scud, with increasing humidity.

Wood’s Holl, Mass.

Easterly storms are preceded by rapidly rising barometer and temperature, cirrus clouds in early morning moving slowly from the northwest twelve or fourteen hours before approach of storm, and unusually high tides.

Southerly storms by rapidly falling barometer, rising temperature, clouds moving rapidly from the southwest, heavy ocean-swell, and tides running stronger, but not as high as before easterly storms.

Westerly storms by falling barometer, clouds moving in all directions, ocean greatly agitated, with low tides.

Sea birds come into harbor six or eight hours before storm arrives, and remain until it is over.

Wytheville, Va.

Slowly falling barometer, rising temperature, east to southeast winds veering to west.

In winter snow storms are preceded by northeast winds, rising temperature, and slow fall of barometer.

Well-defined cirro-cumulus moving from any direction indicate rain.

Yankton, Dak.

Wind storms are preceded by falling barometer, sudden rise of temperature, clouds moving rapidly from the northwest, with southeast surface wind.

If a calm, with high temperature, occurs after a brisk northerly wind for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, a northwest gale may be expected.

Rain storms are preceded by barometric fluctuations, a hazy, ragged-edged, dark cloud, and wind from east to northeast.

The following tables contain the information heretofore published in pamphlet form under the title of “Rain and Dry Winds,” computed for geographical districts.

Table I. Shows the quadrant from which the winds are most likely to be followed by rain or snow.

Table II. Shows the quadrant from which the winds are least likely to be followed by rain or snow.

These tables are computed from all the observations made by this bureau since its establishment to January 1, 1882.

The districts herein referred to are those adopted by this office as shown by the “District Map.” For convenience of reference they are herein described at the foot of each table.

Table No. I.—Winds most likely to be followed by rain or snow.

1871 to 1881, INCLUSIVE.

Geographical district. January. February. March. April. May. June.
Eastern Gulf States S to E S to E SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Key West and Punta Rassa SE to NE S to E S to E S to E SE to NE SE to NE
Lower Lake Region SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE W to S W to S
Lower Mississippi Valley SW to SE S to E S to E S to E SW to SE SW to SE
Middle Atlantic States SE to NE S to E S to E S to E SW to SE SW to SE
Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain Slope NE to NW E to N E to N E to N SE to NE S to E
Middle Pacific Coast Region SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Middle Plateau District SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE NW to SW NE to NW
Missouri Valley NE to NW NE to NW S to E SE to NE S to E S to E
New England States SW to SE SW to SE S to E S to E SW to SE SW to SE
Northern Rocky Mountain Slope NE to NW NE to NW NE to NW NE to NW NE to NW SE to NE
North Pacific Coast Region SW to SE W to S SW to SE SW to SE W to S W to S
Northern Plateau District W to S SW to SE SW to SE NW to SW W to S NW to SW
Ohio Valley SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Rio Grande Valley SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE S to E
South Atlantic States E to N SE to NE W to S SW to SE SE to NE SW to SE
Southeastern Rocky Mountain Slope E to N S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E
South Pacific Coast Region S to E W to S W to S W to S W to S SW to SE
Southern Plateau District W to S W to S SW to SE W to S SW to SE S to E
Tennessee SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE W to S
Upper Lake Region SW to SE SW to SE SE to NE SE to NE S to E SW to SE
Upper Mississippi Valley S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E SW to SE
Western Gulf States S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E
=
Geographical district. July. August. September. October. November. December.
Eastern Gulf States SW to SE S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E
Key West and Punta Rassa SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE
Lower Lake Region W to S W to S W to S SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Lower Mississippi Valley NW to SW SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE S to E SE to NE
Middle Atlantic States SW to SE SW to SE S to E SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain Slope S to E S to E S to E SE to NE NE to NW E to N
Middle Pacific Coast Region SW to SE W to S SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Middle Plateau District N to W SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE W to S SW to SE
Missouri Valley S to E S to E S to E S to E NE to NW NE to NW
New England States SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE NE to NW
Northern Rocky Mountain Slope S to E SE to NE NE to NW NE to NW N to W NE to NW
North Pacific Coast Region W to S SW to SE SW to SE W to S SW to SE S to E
Northern Plateau District W to S NW to SW NW to SW W to S SW to SE SW to SE
Ohio Valley W to S W to S SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE
Rio Grande Valley S to E SE to NE SE to NE SE to NE E to N SE to NE
South Atlantic States SW to SE SW to SE SE to NE SE to NE E to N SW to SE
Southeastern Rocky Mountain Slope S to E S to E S to E S to E E to N E to N
South Pacific Coast Region W to S NW to SW N to W W to S W to S S to E
Southern Plateau District SW to SE S to E SW to SE SW to SE S to E W to S
Tennessee W to S W to S SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE W to S
Upper Lake Region SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE W to S W to S
Upper Mississippi Valley SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE SW to SE S to E S to E
Western Gulf States S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E S to E

NOTES.

Eastern Gulf States.—Eastern Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwestern Florida.

Lower Lake Region.—Lake Erie and Ontario, with adjacent territory.

Lower Mississippi Valley.—A belt of country, 200 miles broad, from Cairo to Vicksburg. Below Vicksburg the character of the country so changes that it is no longer described as a valley.

Middle Atlantic States.—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia as the Middle States, and that part of those States lying east of the Alleghanies as the Middle Atlantic States.

Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Eastern Colorado, Southern Nebraska, Kansas, northwestern portion of Indian Territory, portion of Northern Texas, also a portion of Northeastern New Mexico.

Middle Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and north of the 37th parallel of latitude.

Middle Plateau District.—Western Colorado, Utah, Nevada, southwestern corner of Wyoming, and the portions of California lying east of the Sierra Nevadas.

Missouri Valley.—A belt of country 200 miles broad, from Fort Sully, Dak., to Jefferson City, Mo.

New England States.—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Northern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Those portions of Montana and Wyoming lying east of the Rocky Mountains, Southwestern Dakota, and Northwestern Nebraska.

North Pacific Region.—Those portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying west of the Cascade range.

Northern Plateau District.—Portion of Western Wyoming, Western Montana, Idaho, and the portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying east of the Cascade range.

Ohio Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Pittsburgh, Pa., to Cairo, Ill.

Rio Grande Valley.—Southwestern Texas below the junction of the Rio Pecos with the Rio Grande.

South Atlantic States.—North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern and Eastern Florida.

Southeastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Southeastern New Mexico, Central and Western Texas.

South Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and south of the 37th parallel of latitude.

Southern Plateau District.—Western New Mexico, Arizona, and Southeastern California.

Upper Lake Region.—Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, with adjacent country.

Upper Mississippi Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Saint Paul to Cairo. 0 Western Gulf States.—Western Louisiana, Western Arkansas, Eastern Texas, Southern Missouri, and southeastern portion of Indian Territory.

Table No. II.—Winds least likely to be followed by rain or snow.

1871 to 1881, INCLUSIVE.

Geographical district.January.February.March.April.May.June.
Eastern Gulf StatesNW to SWNW to SWN to WN to WN to WNE to NW
Key West and Punta RassaNW to SWN to WN to WN to WN to WN to W
Lower Lake RegionNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWN to WE to NE to N
Lower Mississippi ValleyN to WN to WN to WN to WNE to NWE to N
Middle Atlantic StatesN to WN to WN to WN to WN to WNE to NW
Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain SlopeNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW
Middle Pacific Coast RegionE to NE to NNE to NWE to NE to NNE to NW
Middle Plateau DistrictE to NN to WE to NE to NE to NW to S
Missouri ValleyW to SW to SW to SNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW
New England StatesSE to NEN to WN to WN to WN to WN to W
Northern Rocky Mountain SlopeS to EW to SW to SW to SW to SNW to SW
North Pacific Coast RegionNE to NWNE to NWE to NE to NSE to NESE to NE
Northern Plateau DistrictNE to NWNE to NWE to NNE to NWE to NE to N
Ohio ValleyN to WNE to NWN to WNE to NWNE to NWE to N
Rio Grande ValleyNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW
South Atlantic StatesNW to SWN to WN to WN to WN to WNE to NW
Southeastern Rocky Mountain SlopeNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWN to WN to W
South Pacific Coast RegionNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWE to NE to NE to N
Southern Plateau DistrictNE to NWE to NE to NE to NNE to NWN to W
TennesseeN to WN to WN to WN to WN to WNE to NW
Upper Lake RegionE to NN to WN to WN to WN to WN to W
Upper Mississippi ValleyNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWN to WN to WNE to NW
Western Gulf StatesNW to SWN to WNW to SWN to WN to WN to W
Geographical district.July.August.September.October.November.December.
Eastern Gulf StatesNE to NWNE to NWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW
Key West and Punta RassaNE to NWN to WN to WNW to SWN to WN to W
Lower Lake RegionE to NE to NNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWNE to NW
Lower Mississippi ValleyE to NE to NNW to SWN to WNW to SWN to W
Middle Atlantic StatesE to NN to WN to WN to WN to WN to W
Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain SlopeNW to SWW to SNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWW to S
Middle Pacific Coast RegionNE to NWE to NE to NNE to NWSE to NEE to N
Middle Plateau DistrictSE to NEE to NE to NE to NE to NE to N
Missouri ValleyNW to SWN to WNW to SWNW to SWW to SW to S
New England StatesN to WN to WN to WN to WN to WNW to SW
Northern Rocky Mountain SlopeNW to SWNW to SWSW to SESW to SESE to NEW to S
North Pacific Coast RegionSE to NESE to NEE to NE to NE to NNE to NW
Northern Plateau DistrictSE to NES to ES to EE to NE to NNE to NW
Ohio ValleyE to NE to NN to WE to NN to WN to W
Rio Grande ValleyNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWW to SW to S
South Atlantic StatesN to WN to WN to WNW to SWNW to SWN to W
Southeastern Rocky Mountain SlopeN to WN to WNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW
South Pacific Coast RegionE to NS to ES to ESE to NENE to NWNE to NW
Southern Plateau DistrictNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWNE to NWE to N
TennesseeNE to NWE to NN to WN to WN to WN to W
Upper Lake RegionN to WN to WN to WE to NE to NE to N
Upper Mississippi ValleyN to WNE to NWE to NN to WNW to SWNW to SW
Western Gulf StatesNE to NWN to WNW to SWNW to SWNW to SWNW to SW

NOTES.

Eastern Gulf States.—Eastern Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwestern Florida.

Lower Lake Region.—Lakes Erie and Ontario with adjacent territory.

Lower Mississippi Valley.—A belt of country 200 miles broad, from Cairo to Vicksburg. Below Vicksburg the character of the country so changes that it is no longer described as a valley.

Middle Atlantic States.—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia as the Middle States, and that part of those States lying east of the Alleghanies as the Middle Atlantic States.

Middle Eastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Eastern Colorado, Southern Nebraska, Kansas, northwestern portion of Indian Territory, portion of northern Texas, also a portion of Northeastern New Mexico.

Middle Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and north of the 37th parallel of latitude.

Middle Plateau District.—Western Colorado, Utah, Nevada, southwestern corner of Wyoming, and the portions of California lying east of the Sierra Nevadas.

Missouri Valley.—A belt of country 200 miles broad, from Fort Sully, Dak., to Jefferson City, Mo.

New England States.—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Northern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Those portions of Montana and Wyoming lying east of the Rocky Mountains, Southwestern Dakota, and Northwestern Nebraska.

North Pacific Region.—Those portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying west of the Cascade range.

Northern Plateau District.—Portion of Western Wyoming, Western Montana, Idaho, and the portions of Oregon and Washington Territory lying east of the Cascade range.

Ohio Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Pittsburg, Pa., to Cairo, Ill.

Rio Grande Valley.—Southwestern Texas below the junction of the Rio Pecos with the Rio Grande.

South Atlantic States.—North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Northern and Eastern Florida.

Southeastern Rocky Mountain Slope.—Southeastern New Mexico, Central and Western Texas.

South Pacific Coast Region.—Those portions of California west of the Sierra Nevadas and south of the 37th parallel of latitude.

Southern Plateau District.—Western New Mexico, Arizona, and Southeastern California.

Upper Lake Region.—Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan with adjacent country.

Upper Mississippi Valley.—The belt of country, about 200 miles broad, from Saint Paul to Cairo.

Western Gulf States.—Western Louisiana, Western Arkansas, Eastern Texas, Southern Missouri, and southeastern portion of Indian Territory.