PREDICTING TORNADOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7567, 20 February 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

PREDICTING TORNADOES.

We learn from a ciroular issued by Mr. William A. Eddy, the reporter of the United States Signal Service Department, that great progress has been made in America within a few years in the study of storms. Mr. Eddy calls attention to the fact that soma of the terrible losses of life aud property due to tornadoes can be averted. In 1862, Professor T. B. Maury asserted, what was then the fact, that the prediction of a tornado was a triumph yet to be attained by the science of meteorology. In less than two years from that time some predictions of tornadoes were successfully made by Lieutenant John P. Finley, of the Signal Service. The percentage of verified predictions is being steadily increased by a knowledge of the average conditions preceding each series of tornadoes, thus making the predictions more definite and local with each succeeding year. Already the predictions, which enable measures of precautious to be adopted for the day, arc effective. Of 3228 predictions of tornadoes made in 18S4, 3201 were verified ; and of 38 predictions that tornadoes would occur, made in April and June, ISSI, 18 were verified. Of 19 predictions that tornadoes would occur, made ia June and July, ISSS, 15 were verified. When tornadoes were predicted, in no instance did violent storms fail to occur, either hurricanes, tornadoes, or hailstorms.—lron.