50 



Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



storm that is of marked energy. In the majority of in- 

 stances the duration of the fall is for one or two minutes, 

 while the stones are few in number and range from one- 

 fourth to one-half inch in diameter though they may be an 

 inch or more in diameter. The hail belt is generally a 

 narrow strip running from east to west or from the south- 

 west to the northeast, but has been reported running in 

 other directions. The extent of the belt usually ranges 

 from two to four hundred feet in breadth to a half mile or 

 more long, skipping a large section to fall again farther 

 along. Once or twice during a decade a storm may be 

 very severe, covering territory several miles wide and ten 

 to fifteen or more miles in length. 



For the fifteen years 1895-1909 the average number of 

 hail storms was as follows : March, 2 ; April, 8 ; May, 12 ; 

 June, 8; July, 4; August, 4; September, 3; October, 2. 

 Many of these were very slight and caused no damage. It 

 appears that hail storms are more frequent and severe 

 in the northwestern part of the state. Probably the most 

 severe hailstorm that has occurred within the history of 

 the state was that of September 5, 1898. 3 



The following table will give a general idea as to the 

 prevalency of such storms and the possibility of injury 

 to forest trees : 



Stations in 

 Nebraska. 



Total. 



Ashland. 



Beaver City 



Fairbury 



Fremont 



Genoa 



Harvard 



Hay Springs 



Kimball 



Lincoln 



Minden 



Oakdale 



Ravenna 



Weeping Water. 



44 

 29 

 35 

 33 

 70 

 64 

 43 

 68 

 61 

 102 

 53 

 51 

 67 



3 Described in Monthly Report, Missouri Section, October, 1898. 



4 Information supplied by Prof. Geo. Loveland, Section Director, U. S. 

 Weather Bureau. 



