14 
BULLETIN 1328, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
INFLUENCE OF STORMS AND RAIN 
The period of the season of 1922 in which these data were obtained 
inckided many bright days on which storms occurred during the 
course of the afternoon, giving an excellent opportunity to study the 
behavior of the bees on the approach of a storm; in fact, for the 
purposes of a brief general study of flight activities, there were 
too many such days. 
The influence of a storm is well shown by the data for a single day 
(Table 3, and fig 4.) The records on which this curve is based were 
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Fig. 4. — Flight, temperature and hive-weight data for May 15, 1922, showinj 
the effect of a threateBed storm (2.30-4.15 p. m.) on flights 
taken on May 15, a bright, sunny day until the afternoon, 
following chronological data show the weather conditions: 
The 
sky indicates the sudden approach of a 
of heavily laden 
Time Weather conditions 
2.30 A clouding over is noticed. 
2.45 The very much darkened 
storm. 
3.00 It is thundering, and an increase in the number 
nectar-carrying bees is noted at the gates. 
3.15 A gusty wind is blowing, precipitation being expected any minute. 
3.30 The storm is passing from a westerly direction to a southerly. The 
very dark nucleus of the storm, where precipitation appears to be tak- 
ing place, is from 3 to 4 miles away. 
3.45 The air is calmer, the storm having passed without any precipitation. 
4,00 The sun is shining occasionally and for short intervals. 
4.15 The sun is shining steadily, und it has cleared up completely. [This 
condition continued for the remainder of the day.] 
No better example of the sudden approach of a storm with all its 
symptoms to the very point of precipitation, but without actual pre- 
cipitation, could have been obtained. 
