148 



Of the observations, those in regard to temperature 

 are of more general interest. 



Mean temperature, Jan., Mt. Washington, 6° F. 

 " " Lunenburg, Vt., 16° 



July, Mt. Washington, 4B° 

 " " Lunenburg, Vt., 68° 



annual temperature, Mt. Washington, 25° 

 " " Lunenburg, Vt., 41° 



The lowest monthly mean temperature recorded, 1-3°, 

 was reported by Sergt. Hearne, March, 1872. The mean 

 for Boston the same month was 26°. 



In any given cold period, the minimum temperature 

 occurs on Mt. Washington twelve or twenty-four hours 

 before it does in the valleys immediately adjacent. This 

 fact, first shown during our occupation of the mountain, 

 is one of practical importance. Although the cold wave 

 generally comes on the tide of high barometer from the 

 west, sometimes it does not reach the surface of the earth 

 until it gets comparatively near the coast ; then if there 

 is no station on some high mountain, the extreme cold 

 comes suddenly, without the least warning. 



At no time, during our stay on the mountain, did we 

 suffer from cold. When exposed, in extreme weather, 

 one freezes so quickly that he does not feel the ordinary 

 sensation of cold. 



The precipitation in winter is chiefly in form of frost- 

 work, and snow-ice ; hence, for at least five months the 

 amount has to be estimated, but during the other seven 

 months, it can be measured with tolerable accuracy. In 

 the Reports of the Chief Signal Officer, one year it is 

 given as 82-96 in., another year, 47 in. 



Before the station was established on Mt. Washington, 

 very few had even heard ot the great velocity of winds 



