Off The Cuff

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

— Weather extremes in recent days and to an extent in recent years always spur conversation which brings to mind an extreme weather “event” in Gravette and the area.

Actually, it was a threeyear condition which began in 1952, peaked the following year, and started to ebb in 1954.

It was in those years the area was visited by extreme heat and drought conditions during the summer months. What made it most unusual was how hot and dry it was during June in those years. June is generally relatively cool and moist.

Elson Schmidt, who managed the Farmer’s Coop here for many years, was the local U.S. Weather observer. I refer to his original records often for tid-bits like this “Cuff.”

In June of 1952, Elson’s records show the temperatures ranged in the upper 90s most of the month and they peaked at 103 the last two days. Schmidt noted in his monthly report: “We are suffering from drought. Crops and pastures hurt bad. Water supply low. Many ponds dried up.” A miserly .98 inch of rain was reported for the entire month.

The following year, in June, 1953, Schmdit wrote: “This is the hottest and driest on record here. Extreme damage to all crops. Water supply low.” There was just .7 inch of rain during June’s 30 days.

And it was 100 degrees or above nine days during the month and the high 90s the rest of the time, except for two 89-degree days.

Although 1954 saw six 100-degrees days the temperature logged in the low and mid 90s the rest of the time. And . . . . more than an inch-and-a-half of rain was recorded.

Schmidt again wrote “Drought conditions extreme. Great damage to crops. Water shortage.”

The next year things returned to normal (if there is such a thing as normal weather in these fickle Ozark hills). The highest temperature that June was a “cool” 93 degrees. And more important, particularly to farmers, more than 4 inches of rain fell.

You guessed it. Schmidt didn’t write a single word in his report.

So enjoy these cool days. Enjoy the patter of rain on the roof. And hope we don’t have another three year run of hot, dry Junes such as was experienced here in 1952-53-54.

-Dodie Evans

P.S. As I mentioned the weather is always a good topic for discussion. It helped me fill this space.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 06/16/2010