636 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Wind. — The prevailing direction of the wind was from the southwest. 

 The highest velocity reported from a regular Weather Bureau station 

 was 70 miles an hour, from the southwest, at Sioux City, on the 6th. 



Sunshine and Cloudiness. — The average per cent of the possible amount 

 of sunshine was 72, or 1 per cent more than the normal. The per cent of 

 the possible amount at the regular Weather Bureau stations was as fol- 

 lows: Charles City, 71; Davenport, 73; Des Moineis, 78; Dubuque, 76; 

 Keokuk, 73; Sioux City, 69. 



Rivers.— The Misssissippi River fell steadily throughout the month. 

 At Dubuque the fall was from a stage of 7.8 feet on the 1st to 4.3 feet 

 on the 30th. At Davenport the river fell from 6.0 feet on the 1st to 3.2 

 feet on the 31st. The smaller streams in the vicinity of the last named 

 station dried up. 



Miscellaneous Phenomena. — A brilliant display of the aurora borealis 

 occurred on the night of the 26th-27th. The phenomenon was visible 

 in all parts of the state. The illumination was first observed about 

 dusk and it continued past 12 o'clock midnight of the 26th. The most 

 marked features of the display were the flashing of the streamers and 

 the appearance of a whitish band of light. At times the streamers ex- 

 tended upward past the zenith and many degrees to the southward. In 

 country districts away from the lights of cities and towns, the auroral 

 light was reported to have covered a large part of the sky. The display 

 was most pronounced between 8:30 p. m. and 9 p. m. The band of whitish 

 light had a width of from 2 to 3 degrees and when first seen, about 9 

 p. m., extended almost across the sky from horizon to horizon, one end 

 being a few degrees south of east and the other at the opposite side of" 

 the sky. The crown or top of the band passed almost through the zenith. 

 The whole band was drifting southward and slowly fading. By 9:15 p. m. 

 it had vanished, the crown having moved southward about 20°. 



Dates of: Hail: 6th, 26th; Thunderstorms: All but the 16th, 18th, 

 23rd, 27th, 29th; Fog: 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 24th; Solar halos: 

 20th, 29th, 30th: Lunar halos: 18th. 



