338 Ninth Annual Report of the 



mean annual temperature of the State, as derived from tlie 

 records of 22 stations possessing records of ten years or more, 

 was very slightly above the normal. Only Honeymead Brook 

 and Plattsburgh Barracks reported deficiencies of temperature. 



The average total precipitation over the State for the year was 

 40.30 inches, as derived from the records of 121 stations. The 

 maximum local precipitation was 59.26 inches at Setauket, while 

 the minimum was 19.85 inches at Mt. Morris. The greatest 

 monthly average for the State was 6.88 inches in July, the least 

 being 1.10 inches in March. The greatest local monthly precipi- 

 tation was 18.18 inches at Setauket in July, and the least was 

 0.13 inch at Poughkeepsie in October. The total depth and 

 distribution of precipitation over the State are shown in the 

 fourth chart of this report, and the average daily amounts by the 

 sixth chart. The average precipitation during 1897 at 27 stations 

 possessing records for previous years was 1.49 inches above the 

 normal amount. Deficiencies were reported from 12 stations, 

 the greater number of which were located in western and central 

 New York. The amounts exceeded any annual rainfall previ- 

 ously recorded at Honeymead Brook and Setauket, while at 

 Cortland the rainfall was the least on record. The average total 

 snowfall at 53 widely distributed stations was 59.9 inches. The 

 heaviest snowfall, exceeding 100 inches, occurred on the high- 

 lands east of Lakes Ontario and Erie, the maximum local amount 

 being 145 inches at North Lake. On the coast and in the central 

 valleys the total depth ranged from 25 to 40 inches. 



The average number of days on which the precipitation 

 amounted to 0.01 inch or more was 127. The number was 

 largest near the Great Lakes and over the Northern Plateau, 

 and least in the southeast and near the Central Lakes. 



The average number of clear days for the State was 118, of 

 partly cloudy days 113, and of cloudy days 134, giving an average 

 cloudiness of 53 per cent. 



