COMPARATIVE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR APRIL 12, 1908 and OCTOBER 14, 1973
April 12, 1908
The records of the Weather Bureau for April 12, 1908 give the following data:
From 7 to 12 P.M. the average wind velocity was about 14 miles per hour. The wind was northwest until 7 P.M., varying between northwest and west until 10:30 P. M., and after that west. The temperature was between 40 and 50 degrees Farenheit.
Time Average Velocity Miles Per Hour Maximum Velocity Miles Per Hour 10 - 11 A.M. 26 34 11 - 12 29 38 12 - 1 P.M. 34 39 1 - 2 28 31 2 - 3 30 38 3 - 4 30 36 4 - 5 30 36 5 - 6 24 38 6 - 7 21 29
October 14, 1973
The records of the Weather Bureau for October 14, 1973 give the following data:
The weather was clear, dry, warm and windy. The rainfall for the three week period preceeding the fire was 0.37 inches. The temperature was in the high 60's. The wind was from the west at 31 miles per hour with gusts up to 44 miles per hour. The wind speed during the firestorm was estimated above 100 miles per hour. At 7:00 P.M. the wind momentarially died and shifted from the west-northwest and then increased. At 9:15 P.M. the wind abated.