REPORT. OFFICE OF THE NEVADA STATE WEATHER SERVICE, To His Excellency, R. K. COLCORD, Governor of Nevada: SIR: In compliance with the provisions of an Act entitled "An Act to establish a Weather Service Station in Nevada, and to provide for the appointment of a Director thereof, and appropriating money to pay the expenses of the same," approved February 19, 1887, I have the honor to transmit, herewith, my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1891. Very respectfully your obedient servant, Director. 1-P GENERAL SUMMARY. The work of the Nevada State Weather Service has gone steadily onward during the past year. The voluntary observers have been faithful and prompt in the preparation of their reports. Several new stations have been established and the old ones kept up in good working order. The publications have been issued promptly to the various persons upon the mailing lists. Owing to the demand, five weather and temperature forecast stations were opened during September and November. The transfer, on June 30th, of the weather branch of the Signal Service from the War Department to the Agricultural Department, resulted in the retention, in the U. S. Signal Corps, of Sergeant Dexter C. Grunow, who elected to stay with the army. On June 7th, in accordance with instructions from the Chief Signal Officer, Sergeant Grunow turned over the Weather Bureau in Carson City to Mr. Ford A. Carpenter, who took charge of that office and assumed the duties in connection with the Nevada State Weather Service. STATIONS. The Service has increased its efficiency during the past year in many respects. Stations have been established at Belleville, Esmeralda county; St. Clair, Churchill county; Stofiel, Elko county, and Wabuska, Lyon county, making in all thirty-two stations from which regular reports are received. Arrangements were made during December so that meteorological reports could be secured, commencing with the new year, from Battle Mountain, Lander county; Golconda, Humboldt county; Halleck, Elko county; South Camp (near Wellington), Douglas county, and Toano, Elko, county, thus in a great measure covering the State. During 1892 further efforts will be made to establish full reporting stations in the northern and central portions of Washoe and Humboldt counties, central Nye and southern Lincoln counties. OBSERVERS. With few exceptions the monthly meteorological forms have been prepared and regularly forwarded by the voluntary observers. The mail facilities of a number of the more important stations, notably Belmont, Sunnyside, Stofiel, Tybo and Yount's Ranch, have put the painstaking observers to considerable trouble to get their reports off so as to reach the central office in time for publication. One energetic observer rode thirty-five miles to the nearest town solely to mail his report. Another, until recently, had to send his report nearly one hundred miles to the nearest accessible postoffice. Such energy could be imitated with profit by the voluntary observers of some of the older services in the Eastern States. INSTRUMENTS. The stations under the direct auspices of this Service are sup plied with the best instruments obtainable and distributed as follows: Austin, Belmont, Carson City, Elko and Pioche are furnished with Richard's barograph and thermograph in addition to self-registering maximum and minimum thermometers and raingauge. Nineteen stations have a set of Green's maximum and minimum thermometers and rain-guage. Six are supplied by the Southern Pacific railroad, and have a thermometer and rain-gauge. One, Crane's Ranch, is a rainfall station supplied with rain-gauge only. PUBLICATIONS. The Monthly Weather Review has been issued regularly on or about the fifteenth of the month succeeding that for which it was the record. The daily temperature and precipitation charts, showing average and normal data for Carson City, have been of considerable interest to the public. The two weather maps, one showing the average temperature by isothermal lines and the mean wind direction for each station, and the other, by shaded portions, the total precipitation for the whole State, have been highly valued; the latter especially by those interested in irrigation. This graphic method of illustrating weather statistics has great advantages over tabulated matter. The Review has been enlarged by adding a table showing maximum and minimum data and the average of the mean soil temperatures taken and reported by the Reno Agricultural Experiment Station. Another new feature is the table headed "Monthly Departures from the Normal," embracing twenty-one stations having records from four to twenty-three years. Besides the Review there were issued by the Neostyle duplicating process from time to time as occasion demanded, circular letters, special instructions, etc., relative to the current work, such as the meteorological observations, forecasts and the like. FORECASTS. Beginning with September, daily weather and temperature forecasts were telegraphed to the following persons: C. W. Friend, Carson City; President State University, Reno; O. B. Vincent, Austin; C. P. Mengel, Hawthorne; and commencing with November, F. E. Joannes, Eureka. In the absence of any adverse criticism it is thought that these forecasts are giving good satisfaction. REVIEW OF THE WEATHER DURING 1891. The year 1891 was two and seven-tenths degrees below the normal, the mean yearly temperature computed for the State as a whole being forty-eight and three-tenths. The highest temperature recorded at any station was one hundred and one at Sodaville on July 21st. The lowest was twenty-seven below zero at Stofiel on December 7th. As regards precipitation the year was considerably above the average, the normal twelve inches and thirty hundredths, the mean yearly fourteen inches and six hundredths. More precipitation was deposited this year than during any previous year of which we have record. January, as compared with former years, was remarkable in many respects. The mean temperature for the State was 7.2 higher than in January, 1890, and the average precipitation was 3.61 inches less than last year. In January, 1890, thirteen stations reported a minimum temperature of 20° below zero, or lower, while this year only one station reported the same: Maximum, 68.0, at Mill City on the 1st; minimum, 25.0 below zero, at Elko, on the 11th. The difference in the snowfall is also remarkable. Last year Last year the average for the State was 35.1 inches, while this year the average was only 2.0 inches. The following stations reported 0.1 inch or more of snow on the ground on the 31st: Austin, 1 inch; Crane's Ranch, 3.0 inches. A light earthquake shock was felt at Carson City on the 2d, at 12:02 P. M. The weather during February was chiefly noticable for the generous precipitation that was general throughout the State, and the frequent brisk to high winds and heavy snow squalls that occurred, especially in southern Esmeralda and the northern portion of Nye and Lincoln counties. The mean temperature for the State was 30.5; departure from normal, -0.5; maximum, 66.0, on the 14th, at Yount's Ranch; minimum, -19, on the 9th, at Ely. The temperature was everywhere nearly normal, except at a few stations, the greatest departure being at Ely, where the mean was 10.0 below the average for four years. A very brilliant meteor was observed, moving from southwest to northeast at about 10:30 P. M. of the 13th, at Ely. It was so bright that it was possible to see surrounding objects almost as plainly as in the day time. It disappeared after exploding with a loud report. The mean temperature for March was 38.9; maximum, 78.0, on the 21st, at Yount's Ranch; minimum, 2.0, on the 6th, at Eureka. The temperature was below the average at all stations except Carson City and Downeyville, it being normal at those stations. The mean precipitation was 1.55; greatest monthly, 4.65, at Lewers' Ranch; least monthly, trace, at Mill City. No snowfall at Hot Springs, Humboldt and Yount's Ranch. At eleven stations the precipitation ranged from .05 to 1.51 above the average. At three stations it ranged from .05 to .88 below the average, and at one station (Ely) it was normal. Prevailing direction of the wind for the State, southwest. Earthquake shock lasting about six seconds, at Palmetto, at 1:45 A. M. on the 19th inst. For April the weather was cooler than usual and, except in the southeastern portion, an abundance of precipitation was the chief characteristic. The temperature was 3 degrees below the average and frosts occurred in the western portion during the first and last weeks of the month, but, fortunately, were not heavy enough to do any damage to early vegetation. The precipitation for April was .70 inches above the average, and when it is known that the normal for the State is only .81, the true significance of the above figure will be seen. Mean temperature, 48.3; maximum, 88.0, on the 29th and 30th, at Yount's Ranch; minimum 5.0, on the 8th, at Ely. At all stations except Downeyville, Humboldt and Reno the mean temperature ranged from 0.8 to 4.7 below the average; at the three above-mentioned stations it ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 above the average, and at Carson City it was normal. Greatest monthly, 20.5, at Palmetto; least monthly, trace, at Reno. No snow fell at Belmont, Beowawe, Hawthorne, Mill City and Yount's Ranch. The precipitation was above the average at all stations except Belmont, Downeyville, Pioche and Winnemucca. Prevailing wind for the State, south. A large meteor fell at Palmetto on the 12th, exploding with a report like thunder. Light earthquake shocks were reported at this station on the 8th, 9th and 12th. The shock on the 9th lasted six seconds.. The month of May was remarkable for extensive and long continued rains throughout the State, accompanied by cool weather, especially along the latter part of the month. The first of the month was very favorable to the growth of vegetation, but from about the 20th the temperature was too low to allow the crops to make much growth. The frost occurring over the greater part of the State did. little or no damage. While to some extent these abnormal conditions have had a tendency to make crops and fruits slightly backward, yet encouraging reports have come in from different parts of the State. Wheat and grass are doing better than usual. Snow fell at Carson on the 20th and 21st; Lewers' Ranch, 21st and 31st; Pioche, 21st; Eureka, 20th, 21st and 28th; Genoa, 19th; Monitor Ranch, 21st; Ely, 14th; Candelaria, 29th; Palmetto, 21st and 29th; Virginia, 20th, 21st, 28th, 30th and 31st. Precipitation for the State considerably above the normal. Frosts occurred as follows: Carson City, 9th, 10th, 15th, 19th, 24th and 25th; Reno, 9th and 10th; Genoa, 7th; Crane's Ranch, 13 and 14th; Belmont, 7th, 8th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 30th and 31st. At Lewers' Ranch, between 2:30 and 3 A. M. of the 4th instant., an earthquake shock was felt which was immediately preceded by a roaring wind from the south. Instead of universal cloudless weather common to June, cloudy weather prevailed over most of the State until about the 18th inst., after which date the weather was warm and very favorable to grow |