New York Weather Bureau. * 295 



iiess of 55 per cent, for the State. The greatest cloudiness ob- 

 tained in western New York, and the least in the southeastern 

 section. ' 



The prevailing wind direction was from the west. The average 

 total wind-travel at G stations of the National Bureau was 8,973 

 miles, being above the usual values at all stations. The maxi- 

 mum velocit}' reported from the above stations was SfJ miles per 

 hour at Buffalo on the 9th. 



No thunderstorms were reported this month. 



Hail fell on the 0th, 9th, 10th and 15th, and sleet fell on tJie 

 15th. 



Lunar halos were observed on the 12thj 13th, 11th, 15th, lOth, 

 17th, ISth, 19th and 20th. 



General features of the weather. — The average temperature for 

 December was slightly below the normal, sharply delined cold 

 periods at the opening of the mouth, and from the 15th to the 

 28th, alternating with unseasonably mild weather. The total 

 precipitation was exceptionally light, especially in western- 

 central New York, and the ground was generally bare of snow 

 for the greater part of the month, although in portions of the 

 Western and Northern Plateaus a week to ten days of sleighing 

 was reported during the latter half of December. The number of 

 fair days was somewhat greater than usual for the winter months. 



Five areas of high and nine areas of low pressure influenced our 

 weather conditions this month. The number of low pressure 

 areas was somewhat less than the usual storm frequency for De- 

 cember, and few of them attained great inteu'Sity. Five depres- 

 sions passed eastward beyond the northern border of the State 

 on the Gth, 13th, 19th, 26th and 30th, on all of which dates a 

 marked increase of temperature occurred; but the accompanying 

 precipitation was light excepting at the time of pasisage of the 

 third low% when a moderate snowfall occurred in western New 

 York. A cyclone passed northward far beyond the coast line on 

 the 3d, coincidently with a decided fall of temperature in this 

 vicinity. On the 9th to lOth a depression formed over New Eng- 

 land, developing rapidly, and giving heavy rain and high winds 

 over New York. A second severe storm passed along the coast 



