SUMMER HOT WINDS ON THE GREAT PLAINS. 
\ ' 
BY 
Isaac Monroe Cline. 
[Read before the Society, January 20, 1894.] 
During the past fifteen or twenty years that part of the 
United States which is between the 95th and 102d meridians 
has been settled rapidly b}^ citizens engaged to a greater or 
less extent in agricultural pursuits. In following their avo¬ 
cations they have occasionally met with a peculiar climatic 
feature not previously noted in that section, namely, hot 
winds in summer, or currents of air with higher tempera¬ 
tures than that of the general winds. 
On account of the striking peculiarities of these winds an 
opinion has gained prevalence that they are of frequent oc¬ 
currence and extensive in their scope and damage, despite 
the fact that they have only occurred with sufficient inten¬ 
sity to attract the notice of observers in ten years out of the 
past twenty-three and have not been of sufficient extent and 
severity to damage crops to a degree worthy of notice ex¬ 
cept in three or four years. Even when severe their destruc¬ 
tiveness is confined to narrow limits, and, except in rare 
cases, no great damage results from their effects except to a 
field here and there, and these are only damaged in spots. 
Aside from the scientific value of a collation and study of 
the records relating to these winds, the false impressions 
which prevail relative to their extent and damage have led 
to a strong desire by those interested in the development of 
that section for the publication of facts connected therewith, 
so that the public may know the character and extent of 
such winds, and when and under wTiat conditions they may 
40-Bull. Phil. Soe., Wash., Vol. 12. 
(309) 
