426 



-strong gale from the south on the 6th, and until the 22d the weather 

 was generally mild, though very changeable. On the 2 2d a heavy 

 snow-storm set in from the north-east, and more or less snow fell every 

 day during the remainder of the month. There w^as also a decided re- 

 duction of temperature. Previous to January 22d there had been just 

 a month of mild, thawing weather. About twenty inches of snow fell 

 during the last ten days of the month. 



February. — For steady severity of weather, this month has rarely 

 been equalled in this portion of our State. The mean temperature of 

 the first ten days, taken at V A. M. was only 2^ degrees. The last 

 eight or ten days of the month were also very severe. The minimum 

 temperature of the month was observed at 6^ A. M. of the 24th, when 

 the thermometer indicated 25 deg. below zero. The month was stormy, 

 there being 12 days of snow and one of rain. The snow was deeper 

 throughout the month, than has been known for some years in this sec- 

 tion. About two-thirds of the winter being very cold, the mean tem- 

 perature of the season fell about 2 deg. below that of 1854 — the latter 

 being 24.8 deg., and the former 22.6 deg. 



March. — About two-thirds of the snow thawed off on the 5th, and 

 the weather of the first two weeks was generally mild, though quite 

 variable. On the 19th, however, there was a decided change, and the 

 weather for nine or ten days thereafter, was marked by violent winds 

 and extreme cold. At the close of the month snow yet remained in 

 many places, and vegetation showed little signs of life. A heavy storm 

 of rain occurred on the 13th. 



April. — Previous to the 12th the weather was quite dry. The 

 amount of rain not being appreciable. After this date, however, the 

 rains were excessive and almost constant, accompanied by a high tem- 

 perature. A very severe storm occurred on the night of the IStb, 

 when 2.52 inches of water reached the ground, causing a destructive 

 freshet. About 5 inches of rain fell during three consecutive days. 

 There was much severe thunder and lightning, and on the evening of 

 the 1 8th, hail the size of musket balls, fell in considerable quantities. 



May. — There were no heavy rains here this month, and the moisture 

 afforded was barely sufficient for vegetation. There was also an unusual 

 prevalence of north and north-east winds, accompanied by much cool 

 and unpleasant weather. About 3 inches of snow fell on the 7th, the 



