The following table shows the precipitation or depth in inches of rain and melted snow or hail, the number of days on which it fell, and the number of cloudy and of clear days. Days are counted cloudy when the sky is four-fifths overcast; clear when less than one-third. The last column shows the depth of snow-fall during the month.

The most marked feature of the weather for the month has been the great deficiency in snow, which with the corresponding deficiency for the two preceding months has rendered the early germination of crops impossible although the early arrival of warm weather has permitted prompt beginning of spring's work so that farm work is well advanced.

PRECIPITATION.

The average precipitation for south-eastern Nebraska is only 0.36 inches against an average of 1.11; the average for the entire state is 0.47; the largest precipitation is this month in the extreme west which is the only part of the state having over one inch. A small area in the south-east corner has over one-half an inch, while an area in the east central portion of the state along the Platte has scarcely any, and one station near the centre of this area reports absolutely no appreciable precipitation. All this is in striking contrast with the unprecedented snowfall of last March.

TEMPERATURE.

There has been nothing marked in the temperature of the month: The mean is 1.20 above the normal, the noon temperature 1.8° above the average noon temperature of past Marches; the extremes have been considerable, the range being from 80° above to 5.5° below zero, the usual range being from about 70° above to about 5° above.

STORMS.

Five storms occurred during the month in the United States.

The first appeared off the North Carolina coast on the 9th, and moved slowly north-eastward, reaching the Nova Scotia coast on the 11th, causing strong north-easterly winds; light snows in parts of Nebraska preceded and accompanied this storm.

The second appeared in northern Minnesota on the 12th, with traces of snow in northern Nebraska, and moved eastward, followed by an area of high barometer, causing violent northwesterly winds on the northern Atlantic coast on the 14th and 15th.

The third developed on the 20th in Louisiana from an area of low barometer which had been present in Colorado on the 8th, with light snows generally throughout Nebraska, and moved directly eastward along the gulf coast to the Atlantic, following closely the Atlantic coast, increasing in violence, and reaching the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the 23d, causing high winds from the north-east and north-west on the Atlantic coast on the 22d and 23d. The fourth storm, on the 23d, did not affect Nebraska.

The fifth developed in Indian Territory on the 26th, and moved slowly north-eastward to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; this gave the main snowfall of the month in all parts of our state.

COLD WAVES.

Two cold waves occurred as follows: In the upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys, Colorado, and Kansas on the 4th; giving the lowest temperature of the month for Nebraska, and another over the entire country, from the 27th to the 29th, being very severe in the lake regions. the Mississippi valley, New England and Atlantic coast, and moderately severe along the gulf coast, east of New Orleans.

CROP REPORT.

J. S. Williams, of Tamora, reports all frost out of the ground March 5th, and wheat generally in by the 15th.

John Ellis, of Marquette, reports the putting in of "much small grain with a diminished acreage of wheat."

Seeding seems to have begun generally about a month earlier than last spring.

MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA.

"First sheet lightning on the 19th in the south"-Tamora. Thunder and lightning accompanied the storm on the 26th in various parts of the state. "River open on the 12th "-West Point. Solar and lunar halos quite generally noticed on several dates.

Observers desiring copies of the Annual Report of the Chief Signal Offices for 1885 will please apply.

TABLES.

The following are the mean temperatures, noon temperatures, and precipitations reported by various observers:

The following are the highest and lowest temperatures by self-registering thermometers, and the mean humidity of the air:

The following are the total number of miles traveled by the wind during the month, and the greatest and average velocity per hour:

The average rain for the different sections of the state for March, 1887, is as follows:

South Middle (two stations)..

Inches.

0.39

0.16

1.22

0.22

0.36

.............. 0.47

South-east (covering essentially what has heretofore been the "whole state" as far as reporting).

State average by sections.......................................

COMPARISON OF PAST MARCHES.

The table shows the mean temperature, the noon temperature, and the number of days below zero for the past ten Marches in south-eastern Nebraska; they are found by averaging the numbers reported at the different stations. It also shows the highest temperature and the lowest recorded anywhere in the state by standard, self-registering thermometers:

The following table shows the precipitation or depth in inches of rain and melted snow or hail, the number of days on which it fell, and the number of cloudy and of clear days. Days are counted cloudy when the sky is four-fifths overcast; clear when less than one-third. The last column shows the depth of snowfall during the month:

With this month weather signals are being displayed again throughout the state. A special 10 A.M. prediction for eastern Nebraska is furnished to this office by General Greely, Chief Signal Officer, the cost of the telegram being borne by subscription. This prediction is distributed by mail to all accessible points desiring it. A considerable number of towns are just now providing flags for display, and a large number of postoffices are arranging to display the bulletins for the benefit of the public.

With the first of this month the new code of flags, explained in the accompanying circular, was adopted, and will replace the "sun, moon, and stars" code of flags as fast as they are Worn out.