70 ANlSrUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



movement north of Cape Hatteras was extremelj^ slow. It was 

 almost stationary for more than 24 hours. In the eastern portions of 

 some of the Middle Atlantic States snow fell continuously for about 

 36 hours. Snow was esj^jecially deep in portions of North Carolina, 

 Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, 

 and New Jersey. At Washington, D. C, the official measurement was 

 28 inches, 8 inches more than the previous record, which latter was 

 during the memorable storm of February 11 to 13, 1899. However, 

 there was an important difference between the storms of 1899 and 1922. 

 In 1899 the snow was accompanied by extremely low temperatures 

 (a minimum of 15° below zero was recorded in Washington) while 

 in the 1922 storm the temperature was only slightly below freezing. 

 On the evening of January 28, while snow was still falling, the roof 

 of the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington collapsed while a per- 

 formance was in progress, killing 97 people and seriously injuring 

 many others, 



Severe, squall in Neio York. — Squalls of a severity unequaled for 

 many years occurred at several places on the Middle Atlantic and 

 New England coasts during the afternoon of June 11, 1922. They 

 were the result of a cyclone of marked intensity which was central 

 over Lake Ontario on the morning of that day. The squalls at- 

 tained greatest violence in the vicinity of New York City. Much 

 property damage was caused by the high winds and many persons 

 who were out in small pleasure-craft were drowned. Unfortunately 

 the squall occurred on a Sunday afternoon when large numbers of 

 pleasure boats were in use. On the morning of June 11 small-craft 

 warnings were ordered for the entire Atlantic coast north of Chesfi- 

 peake Bay and advices issued that squalls would occur during that 

 afternoon and night. Commenting upon the great amount of dam- 

 age done by Sunday afternoon's storm, and the many fatalities of 

 which it was directly and indirectly the cause, the New York Times 

 remarked that — 



* * * all had been warned, first, by the definite prediction of the Weather 

 Bureau in the morning papers, and, second, by the ominously-black clouds that 

 had been gathering in the west for hours. 



Cold waves, frosts, and inisceTlaneous vxirnmgs. — Warnings of cold 

 waves in the cattle and stock-raising sections of the country were 

 accurate and beneficial. Warnings of frosts and low temperatures 

 for the benefit of truck and horticultural interests and shippers of 

 perishable products are in increasing demand and use by those who 

 have learned to utilize this important service. 



Applications for special forecasts for special functions were 

 numerous and far exceeded any year in the history of the Weather 

 Bureau. During the summer and fall season scarcely a day passed 

 without the forecasters at the five district forecast centers being 

 called on for predictions for lawn parties. State, county, and local 

 fairs, baseball games, social gatherings, etc. Careful consideration 

 is given to all of these requests and in many instances special fore- 

 casts in more detail and for a longer period than is covered by the 

 regular dailv forecasts are given. 



Special forecast service as heretofore was given in connection w3th 

 airplane and dirigible flights, balloon contests, pigeon races, and for 

 the President's cruises on the Mayflower. 



