USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. I > Part 12
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67
4,20
27
16
47.6
November
37.3
21.7
15.7
57
3
1
20, 30
29.5
December
30.3
12.4
17.9
46
16
-20
30
21.4
O
noticed that the mean derived from the maximum and minimum readings is almost always a little the higher.
Mean.
122
History of Littleton.
A study of these tables reveals several prominent facts. The highest (shade) temperature registered during the four years was 91°, on June 21, 1893, and on July 20, 1894. The lowest tem- perature recorded was -29º, on February 25, 1894, which gives an extreme range of 120°. The next lowest winter temperature was -22°, February 5, 1893, and no other below -20° has been regis- tered during this period. The highest mean monthly maximum was in July, 1892, 78°.7, and the next highest in July, 1894, 78°.6. The lowest mean monthly minimum was in January, 1893, -2º.0. The greatest mean range came in July, 1893, 27°.7. The highest mean (monthly) temperature occurred in July, 1894, 66°.4 and the lowest, 6º.8, in January, 1893.
In order to bring out certain other features of interest, Table V. has been prepared. In it are given the average values by months derived from the four years' records.
TABLE V. MEANS DERIVED FROM FOUR YEARS' TEMPERATURE RECORDS AT LITTLETON, N. H.
Month.
Mean Maximum.
Mean Minimum.
Mean Range.
Maxi- mum.
Minimum.
Mean, from Max. and Min.
January
24.9
5.3
19.5
49.5
-14.7
15.0
February
27.0
5.6
21.3
45.7
-21.0
16.3
March
36.4
16.9
19.4
52.7
-7.5
26.8
April
51.3
29.1
19.8
68.7
14.0
40.0
May
65.31
40.31
25.01
83.5
27.2
52.81
June .
76.61
50.81
25.81
89.2
34.7
63.71
July
77.5
52.0
25.4
89.2
39.2
64.8
August .
73.8
52.1
21.6
86.7
37.5
62.9
September
65.0
44.5
23.0
79.0
29.7
56.0
October
56.31
36.21
20.0 1
71.7
20.2
45.32
November
40,61
24.11
16.81
62.61
1.61
32.3
December
30.61
14.91
15.71
46.31
-13.01
21.1
0
0
0
1 Three years only. 2 For one year the mean from tri-daily observations was used.
An examination of Table V. shows that, taking the average of the four years' records, January is the coldest month, with a mean temperature of 15°, and July the warmest, with 64º.8. February has a mean temperature of 16°.3, and June of 63º.7, these being respectively the next coldest and the next warmest months. After February, there is seen to be a rise of about 10° in the monthly mean until June. June, July, and August keep atout the same temperature. In September, there is a fall of almost 7º, and then there is a fall of about 10° a month till December. Feb-
123
Climate and Weather.
ruary shows the lowest minimum temperature, the average for the four years being -21°. December, January, February, and March show minimum temperatures below zero. The minimum summer temperatures vary roughly between 35° and 40°. The average summer maximum temperatures are 89º.2 in June and July, August showing 86°.7. The average winter maximum temper- atures are 45° to 60°. The greatest mean ranges come in May, June, and July, between 25° and 26° ; the least, in November and December, 15°.7 to 16°.8. January, March, and April show a mean monthy range of between 19º aud 20°. January and Feb- ruary are the months with the lowest mean minimum, 5°.3 and 5°.6 ; July and August those with the highest, 52° and 52º.1. The mean maxima of the three winter months are below 31°; of the three summer months, above 73º.
Taking the four years together it may be noted that the highest and lowest temperatures in each year, and the absolute ranges, were as follows : -
1891. Highest, 89° ; Lowest, -17º ; Range, 106°.
1892. Highest, 89°; Lowest, -16° ; Range, 105°.
1893. Highest, 91° ; Lowest, -22° ; Range, 113º.
1894. Highest, 91° ; Lowest, -29° ; Range, 120.
The mean temperatures for each year, as given in the publica- tions of the New England Weather Service, are as follows : - 1892, 42°.2; 1892, 41º.0 ; 1893, 39º.2; 1894, 42°.5, which gives a mean annual temperature of 41°.2.
It will be interesting, in connection with the Littleton records, to note the monthly and annual temperature normals for the neighboring station of Lunenburg, Vermont, where records have been kept regularly during a period of more than 40 years. These normals have been calculated for five-year periods by Mr. J. War- ren Smith, Director of the New England Weather Service, and include the years 1851-1890.
TABLE VI.
MONTHLY AND ANNUAL TEMPERATURE NORMALS FOR LUNENBURG, VT., FOR THE PERIOD 1857-1890.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
June.
July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Year.
15.8
17.7
27.
38.4
53.1
64.2
67.
65.7
56.9
44.7
31.9
19.4
o 41.8
It is, of course, impossible as yet to make any comparison be- tween the temperature conditions of Littleton and Lunenburg on the basis of only four years' record at Littleton.
124
History of Littleton.
A consideration of frost belongs properly under the heading of temperature, although generally included in the account of the precipitation. It has been stated in the preliminary review of the climate of New England that frost may occur in any month, even in midsummer, especially at northern stations. The records for Littleton show that light frosts occurred on the following days during the warmer months : July 5, 1891; May 25, 27, 28, August 14 and September 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1893 ; April 25, 26, May 10, 12, 16, 22, June 7, 8, August 22, 1894 ; and killing frosts occurred September 27, 28, 29, 30, 1893, May 15, August 27, and September 26, 1894.
PRECIPITATION.
In Tables VII .- XII. are given the usual precipitation data for the four years 1891-1894. Tables VII .- X. give the precipitation for each single month. An examination of these tables shows that the maximum amount of precipitation fell in August, 1892
TABLE VII. PRECIPITATION AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1891.
Snowfall.
Month.
Total, including Melted Snow.
Total.
On Ground at End of Month.
Number of Days with Precipitation.
January
4.11
21
18
16
February
2.15
14
12
12
March
2.30
10
T.
8
April
2.21
8
11
May
3.36
2
9
June
2.91
10
July
5.72
12
August
5.30
11
September
2.62
10
October
1.73
.
10
November
2.17
5
3
8
December
3.71
6
2
9
(7.85 inches) ; the least in November, 1893 (0.55 inches). The heaviest snowfall was recorded in February, 1893, when the total amount was 34 inches. The deepest snow on the ground at the end of any month was registered at the end of February, 1893, 28 inches. Twenty-four inches were registered twice, at the end of January and of February, 1894. The largest number of days with precipitation in any one month (17) was noted in May and June, 1892, and the smallest number (3) in November, 1893.
125
Climate and Weather.
From Table XI., which is a yearly summary, compiled from the Annual Summaries of the New England Weather Service, we see
TABLE VIII. PRECIPITATION AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1892.
Snowfall.
Month.
Total, including Melted Snow.
Number of Days with Precipitation.
January
3.99
19
12
10
February
1.26
14
10
8
March
1.84
14
8
6
April
1,29
1
0
6
May
3.79
17
June
7.21
17
July
4.57
9
August
7.85
15
September
2.50
5
October
2.81
9
November
3.67
10
2
11
December
1.68
17
9
that the year 1894 was the driest of the four years, and 1892 had the greatest precipitation, the figures being 29.24 inches and 42.46 inches, respectively. 1893 had the heaviest snowfall, 99 inches.
TABLE IX. PRECIPITATION AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1893.
Snowfall.
Month.
Total, including Melted Snow.
Total.
On Ground at End of Month.
Number of Days with Precipitation.
January
1.25
7
9
10
February
3.24
34
28
13
March
2.82
18
18
7
April
2.04
10
T.
10
May
2.50
11
June
5.04
11
July
3.30
9
August
4.56
12
September
2.56
10
October
3.13
9
November
0.55
5
3
December
3.84
26
10
13
Total.
On Ground at End of Month.
.
The greatest number of rainy days came in 1893, 126; the least (100) in 1894. The mean annual precipitation for Littleton, on
126
History of Littleton.
the basis of these four years, is seen to be 36.20 inches ; the mean annual snowfall, 82 inches; the mean annual number of days
TABLE X.
PRECIPITATION AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1894.
Snowfall.
Month.
Total, including Melted Snow.
Total.
On Ground at End of Month.
Number of Days with Precipitation.
January
2.76
23
24
9
February
1.96
23
24
7
March
2.03
12
12
8
April
2.04
4
7
May
2.44
10
June
3 82
12
July
2.05
10
August
2 91
10
September
2 86
7
October
2.44
7
November
2.02
10
8
December
1.91
15
7
5
with precipitation, 116, and the mean monthly average of days with precipitation, 9.
Table XII. shows that so far August has proved the month with the greatest precipitation (5.15 inches), while April shows the
TABLE XI. PRECIPITATION AND RAINY DAYS AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING 1891-1894.
Precipitation.
Rainy Days.
Year.
Rain and Snow.
Unmelted Snow.
Total.
Monthly Average.
in.
in.
1891
38.29
66
126
10
1892
42.46
75
122
10
1893
34.83
99
117
10
1894
29.24
89
100
8
Mean.
36.20
82
116
9
least (1.89 inches). As a whole, the summer months distinctly show the maximum precipitation of the year, as well as the
127
Climate and Weather.
maximum number of days with precipitation. February has the heaviest snowfall. The snow is usually gone from the ground by the end of April, and November is the first winter month which has snow on the ground at the end of the month.
TABLE XII.
MEAN MONTHLY PRECIPITATION AT LITTLETON, N. H., FOUR YEARS' RECORDS, 1891-1894.
Snowfall.
Month.
Total, including Melted Snow.
Number of Days with Precipitation.
Total.
On Ground at End of Month.
January
3.03
17
16
11
February
2.15
21
18
10
March
2.25
13
10
7
April
1.89
6
11
May
3.02
12
June
4.74
12
July
3.91
10
August
5.15
12
September
2.66
8
October
2.53
9
November
2.60
8
1
8
December
2.78
16
5
9
In Table XII. are given the monthly and annual precipitation normals for Lunenburg, Vermont, for the period 1851-1890. A comparison of Tables XII. and XIII. may be interesting, but of
TABLE XIII.
MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PRECIPITATION NORMALS FOR LUNENBURG, VT., FOR THE PERIOD 1851-1890.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
June.
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Year.
3.06
2.71
3.22
2.63
3.71
3.68
3.91
3.79
3.58
3.49
3.24
2.84
39.88
.
course no definite conclusions can yet be drawn regarding the pre- cipitation at Littleton. The mean annual precipitation derived from the four years, 36.20 inches, is undoubtedly considerably too small, owing to the fact that the year 1892 was exceptionally dry.
128
History of Littleton.
WIND.
Tri-daily observations of wind direction (7 A. M., 2 and 9 P. M.) were made at Littleton during the time from April, 1891, to December, 1892. In 1893 and 1894 the prevailing wind direction for each day is alone noted. The following months have no records : July, 1891; May and June, 1892; September, 1893. A summary of the wind direction records gives the following results as to percentages of frequency of the prevailing winds in each month.
TABLE XIV.
PERCENTAGES OF FREQUENCY OF THE PREVAILING WINDS AT LITTLETON, ; N. H., FOR THE YEARS 1891-1894.
Month.
N.
N. E.
E.
S. E.
S.
S. W.
W.
N. W.
January
:
.
17.14
7.46
1.07
19.35
33.33
21.50
February
2.38
.
3.22
16.12
5.37
2.15
15.05
20.43
37.63
April
2.50
0.83
22.50
6.66
3.33
13.33
13.33
37.50
May
2.22
1.11
26.66
6.66
4.44
21.11
27.77
10.00
July
. ·
0.80
34.67
8.06
4.03
17.74
26.61
8.06
September
1.11
23.33
7.77
3.33
24.44
26.66
13.33
October
0.80
0.80
30.64
4.83
3.22
14.56
20.97
24.19
November
0.83
23.33
7.55
5.83
11.66
28.33
22.50
December
19.51
2.43
1.62
13.00
39.02
24.39
23.65
15.05
3.22
21.50
20.43
16.13
June
30.10
4.30
2.15
22.58
25.80
15.05
August
16.66
4.76
11.90
33 33
32.14
March
It is seen from this table that, on the basis of the four years' records under consideration at present, the prevailing winds of November, December, January, February, June, and September are west ; those of March and April, northwest; and those of May, July, August, and October, east. The west and northwest winds of the months December to April show a decided preponderance over the other wind directions for these months, their per centage of frequency being in all cases over 10 per cent greater than that of the next most prevalent wind direction. During the summer months, the prevailing wind direction is east, although June and September show a very slight predominance of west winds. In the preliminary account of the climate of New England, at the beginning of this chapter, it was stated that the prevailing winds of the region are northwest in winter and southwest in summer. The variations of the winds at Littleton from this general rule are caused by the topography. Being situated in a valley trending east and west, the northwest winds which should be expected in
129
Climate and Weather.
winter become west winds in four of the winter months. In sum- mer, on the other hand, when we expect southwest winds prevail- ingly, it is found that easterly winds are predominant. This, again, is a local effect of the topography, the easterly direction being due to the so-called " valley winds," caused by the cooling, during the evening and night, of the lower air in the valley and on the slopes leading down to it. This process makes the air thus cooled heavy, and consequently it flows down the slopes and down stream along the valley to the west and southwest, giving a pre- vailing easterly wind during the evening and night and early morning, especially in summer, when the conditions for this action are most favorable. This local topographic effect is in the highest degree advantageous for Littleton, for in this way the summer evening and night winds become pleasantly cool and refreshing as a rule. The tri-daily observations of wind direction show quite distinctly the change in the wind at the three hours of observation. Taking these records for the two years during which they were kept, and comparing the total numbers of wind direc- tions noted at the three hours, we find that easterly winds occurred about five times as frequently at 7 A. M. and at 9 P. M. as at 2 P. M., while the prevailing winds at 2 P. M. were westerly or south westerly as a rule. The summer months show this much more distinctly than the winter months.
North, northeast, southeast, and south winds are rare at Little- ton, and apparently show no marked dependence in their frequency on the time of day, or the season of the year. The four years' records are too few to warrant the making of any very definite statement. It seems likely, however, that a longer series of obser- vations would confirm the general points now brought out. On the average for the year, the period 1891-1894 shows a prevalence of west winds, with a percentage of frequency of 26, followed closely by east winds, with a percentage of 23, by northwest with 21, and by southwest with 17. Taking southwest, west, and northwest winds together, they are seen to prevail considerably over half the time.
The record of wind velocity is fairly complete for the four years. Tables XV., XVI., XVII., and XVIII. give the total monthly move- ment, the maximum daily movement, the mean daily movement, the maximum hourly velocity, the mean hourly maximum velocity, and the mean hourly velocity.
The mean hourly maximum velocity for each month is obtained by taking the maximum hourly velocity for each day, adding these velocities together, and dividing their sum by the number of days
VOL. I. - 9
130
History of Littleton.
in the month. This gives the average highest hourly velocity for the month in question. A general yearly summary has not been deemed necessary or desirable, owing to the extreme variability
TABLE XV. WIND VELOCITIES AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1891.
Month.
Total Monthly.
Max. Daily.
Mean Daily.
Max, Ilourly.
Mean Hourly Max.
Mean Hourly Veloc.
Remarks.
January .
2912
293
93.9
26.5
9.3
3.9
February
4102
339
146.5
27.0
14.0
6.1
March
4907
386
158.2
36.7
14.8
6.5
April .
3561
252
118.7
22.6
11.2
4.9
May
'3228
257
104.1
28.
10.9
4.3
June
2288
133
76.2
17.9
9.1
3.1
July
2644
158
85.2
13.7
9.3
3.5
August
2090
178
67.4
16.5
7.4
2.8
September
2016
216
67.2
20.5
7.6
2.8
October .
1464
125
63.6
18.6
7.3
2.6
November .
December
3518
283
135.3
25.6
13.3
5.6
23 days only. Only 5 days. Only 26 days.
of wind velocities, and the short period during which the records have been kept. An examination of the accompanying tables shows a number of interesting facts regarding the wind at Littleton
TABLE XVI. WIND VELOCITIES AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1892.
Month.
Total Move- ment.
Max. Daily.
Mean Daily.
Mean Hourly.
Mean Hourly Max.
Mean Hourly Veloc.
Remarks.
January
2850
224
91,9
26.9
9.6
3.8
February
2425
184
83.6
24.7
8.2
3.4
March
4823
374
155.5
24.5
13.2
6.4
April .
4474
341
149.1
22.2
13.3
6.2
May
4004
269
129.1
25.5
11.9
5.3
June
3025
155
100.8
17.7
10.1
4.2
July
2035
255
65.6
19.0
9.0
2.7
August
741
126
52.9
11.5
7.2
2.2
September .
1751
226
97.2
22.0
9.7
4.0
14 days only. 5 days only. 18 days only.
November
3211
366
107.0
27.9
9.8
4.4
December
2671
298
89.0
25.5
8.2
3.7
30 days.
.
.
during the four years, 1891-1894. The greatest monthly move- ment of the wind was in March, 1891, when 4,907 miles were registered ; the least in June, 1893, the number in that month
·
·
·
October .
.
· .
131
Climate and Weather.
being 1,522 miles. The maximum daily velocity was 445 miles in October, 1893 ; the least daily maximum in any month was 125 miles in October, 1891. The highest mean daily movement
TABLE XVII. WIND VELOCITIES AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1893.
Month.
Total Move- ment.
Max. Daily.
Mean Daily.
Max. Hourly.
Mean Hourly Max.
Mean Hourly Veloc.
Remarks.
January
1545
250
73.5
24.5
9.5
3.0
February
1873
221
72.0
20.4
9.8
3.0
21 days only. 26 days only.
March
3744
354
120.7
26.5
11.0
5.0
April .
4145
387
138.1
32.5
14.5
5.7
May
3990
346
128.7
38.8
13.7
5.3
June .
1522
130
50.7
16.4
6.9
2.1
July
2675
233
86.2
18.8
9.9
3.5
August
2237
270
72.1
23.5
8.6
3.0
September
1838
204
65.6
18.5
7.7
2.7
28 days.
October
2243
445
97.5
37.0
10.8
4.0
23 days.
November
1416
146
70.8
19.2
7.4
2:9
20 days.
December
1022
202
85.1
17.9
9.0
3.5
12 days.
was 158 miles in March, 1891; the least, 50 miles in June, 1893. The maximum hourly velocity recorded in one hour was in May, 1893, 38.8 miles ; but higher velocities have been reached during
TABLE XVIII. WIND VELOCITIES AT LITTLETON, N. H., DURING THE YEAR 1894.
Month.
Total Move- ment.
Max. Daily.
Mean Daily.
Max. Hourly.
Mean Hourly Max.
Mean Hourly Veloc.
Remarks.
January
2808
365
90.5
29.5
10.5
3.7
February
3089
295
110.3
23.5
10.7
4.6
March
3469
216
111.9
21.9
11.1
4.6
April .
3627
254
120.9
25.0
10.8
5.0
May .
No Records.
June .
1560
147
52.0
18.3
9.1
2.1
July
2131
133
68.7
17.4
8.5
2.8
August
1671
215
61.8
17.9
7.0
2.5
27 days only.
September .
2088
152
69.6
18.5
8.0
2.9
October .
2425
181
78.2
25.2
9.4
3.2
November .
2877
347
119.8
22.5
10.9
4.9
24 days only.
December
2351
307
75.8
22.0
8.7
3.1
·
.
shorter periods. The highest mean hourly maximum reached in any month was 14.8 miles in March, 1891; the lowest, 6.9 miles in June, 1893. 6.4 miles was the highest mean hourly velocity
132
History of Littleton.
recorded for a month, this being noted in March, 1892; while the least, 2.1 miles, occurred in June, 1893, and June, 1894. The winter months are seen to be the windy ones, the figures in all the columns, as a rule, showing maxima in the winter.
MISCELLANEOUS DATA.
The following miscellaneous data are taken from the records of the four years, 1891-1894, as being of special interest from a climatic standpoint : -
1891. April 1. Robins came to-day. April 14. Frogs out to-day. April 25. Snow this morning. April 30. Dandelion blossoms to-day. May 2. Martins came to-day.
May 5. Snow.
May 11. Chimney swallows came.
November 4. Ground frozen hard.
November 5. Ponds frozen over for the first time.
November 30. Three inches of snow. Sleighs out. December 30. Ponds broke up at noon, caused by south wind.
1892. January 15. Good wheeling to 9 A. M. Sleighing at 7 P. M.
March 27. Robins came to-day.
March 31. Eight inches of snow in the woods. River closed with ice.
April 3. River broke up to-day.
April 9. Bethlehem hills covered with snow.
April 15. Mountains covered with snow.
April 21. Frogs out to-day.
September 27. Mt. Washington covered with snow.
October 6. Mountains white with snow.
October 29. Snow.
November 29. River and ponds frozen over.
1893. January. Everything frozen. Ice 24 inches thick.
March 31. Snow in woods 18 inches deep. Open ground almost all covered with snow. Drifts three feet deep.
April 12. Blue birds came to day.
April 14. River clear of ice.
April 28. Frogs out to-day.
April 30. Martins came. Mountains well covered with snow.
May 15. Snow seen on mountains to-day.
September 4. Mt. Washington white with snow.
October 31. Mountains white with snow.
November 17. Saranac Pond frozen over.
December 3. Sleighing to-day.
133
Climate and Weather.
1894. March 6. Good sleighing for 95 days up to to-day.
March 17. Blue birds came to-day.
March 19. Robins came to-day.
March 20. Ice in river broke up.
March 23. Some sleighs out.
March 24. Ground well covered with snow.
April 15. Snow seen on hills. Mountains well covered with snow. Plenty of snow in woods.
April 16. Butterfly seen to-day.
April 19. Martins and frogs out.
May 12. Apple blossoms out.
May 16. Blue birds seen to-day.
May 17. Swallows seen to-day.
June 6. Snow on mountains.
June 7-8. Mountains white with snow.
August 21. Snow on mountains.
September 26. Snow on mountains.
October 12. Mountains white with snow.
November 13. Ponds frozen over.
December 3. Sleighs out to-day.
December 10. Some wheeling.
Some of the more important local climatic features peculiar to Littleton may be noted here. Snow-storms come principally with westerly winds, this term including southwest, west, and northwest winds. Northeast snow-storms are less frequent, as a rule, but are apt to be heavy when they do occur. The southerly winds occurring during winter storms are usually warm, but they do not bring rain nearly as often as these same winds do further south, in Connecti- cut and Massachusetts. Snow-squalls are common, especially on the mountains, while the wind is veering around to the northwest at the close of a snow-storm, preparatory to the final clearing-off. The snowfall in the Ammonoosuc Valley itself is considerably less than on the higher land enclosing it, and this valley, as well as that of the Connecticut, is often free from snow in winter when the surrounding hills are covered with snow. The sleighing in the valleys is not infrequently interrupted by the melting due to the warm southerly winds and rain. Sleighing lasts usually from the middle of November till into March.
The thunder-storms in the Littleton district seem usually to follow the Connecticut or Ammonoosuc Valleys. Most of the thunder-storms experienced at Littleton are the edges of those going up the Connecticut Valley or along the mountains to the south. It is generally believed that the Connecticut Valley and the
134
History of Littleton.
White Mountains have more thunder-storms than Littleton has. The storms noted seem to be dependent on the topography, as just stated, except in the cases when they are of great extent. In the latter cases, thunder-storms come from the south or southwest, entirely independently of the topography, crossing hills and valleys without any change in their general features.
Fogs are much more frequent in the valleys than on the hills. These fogs are common on clear, calm nights in winter and summer, but are more frequent in the warmer season. They are almost al- ways less than 100 or 150 feet thick, so that the dwellers on the hill- sides at those heights above the valley bottoms are usually above the fogs, and look down, in the morning, on a sea of fog in the valley bottom.
The temperature contrasts between the valley bottoms and the higher hill-sides and hill-tops near by are clearly seen at Littleton. On clear, calm nights, in winter and summer, the valley bottoms cool considerably by radiation, and the quiet air lying close to the ground also cools. On the hill-sides, however, there is less oppor- tunity for the air to cool, for it is apt to be in motion, more or less, and therefore its temperature does not fall so low as that of the valley air. For this reason, the temperatures registered during the calm, clear nights are usually several degrees lower in the valleys than on the hills. In fact, a difference of only a few feet of eleva- tion often makes a difference of several degrees of temperature. The temperatures registered at the houses on the hill-sides at Littleton village are often a good deal higher than those registered at houses on the main street. The farms in the valley are found to be colder than those on the hills, and farmers in the valley do not raise so much corn as those on the hills for this reason. It is this nocturnal cooling of the valley air that causes the down-stream breezes already referred to in the section on the winds.
There are various local cloud effects of interest at Littleton, the principal one being associated with a coming storm. One of the signs of a storm is the movement of the clouds on the White Mountains. With a southerly, southeasterly, or southwesterly wind at Littleton, heavy masses of clouds are seen curling down from mountains and coming up through the notches, especially the Franconia Notch, south of Littleton. These clouds are usually seen before it rains at Littleton, and they are indications that it is raining on the other side of the mountains, and will soon rain at Littleton, althoughi such clouds sometimes hang over the moun- tains and do not bring rain to the Ammonoosuc Valley. Easterly storms, which come directly over the mountains, do not give such warning of their coming.
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