OF 1906 IN HERTFORDSHIRE. 233 



The rainfall in Hertfordshire continues to be in excess of that 

 of the adjoining counties. Comparing the mean for the whole 

 of the gauges in each of these counties in ' British Rainfall,' 

 1906, the result is: Cambridgeshire (46 gauges), 23'34ins. ; 

 Bedfordshire (27 gauges), 24'23 ins. ; Buckinghamshire (34 

 gauges), 26'74ins. ; Middlesex, excluding London (50 gauges), 

 26'73ins. ; and Essex (83 gauges), 23'58ins. The mean rainfall 

 for all these gauges (240) is 24-35 ins. The mean for Hertford- 

 shire (for the 67 gauges in 'British Rainfall') is 26-54 ins., 

 showing an excess over the average rainfall in the adjoining 

 counties of over 2 inches in amount and 11 per cent, in 

 proportion. 



The chief meteorological occurrences in the year were severe 

 thunderstorms on the lOtli of Febimarj and the 27th of July, 

 the latter with heavy rain which caused floods ; the great 

 rainfall of the 28th of June; the intense heat at the end of 

 August and the beginning of September ; and the snow-storm 

 at Christmas. Further mention of these phenomena will be 

 made in the following notes on the character of the weather in 

 each month. When Watford, St. Albans, or Berkhamsted are 

 mentioned without the name of the station being given, it must 

 be understood that they refer respectively to Weetwood, the 

 Hertfordshire County Museum, and Mr. Mawley's meteorological 

 station, Rosebank. 



Notes on the Months. 



January. — The weather was very mild, with an atmosphere 

 of about average humidity, a bright sky, and an excessively 

 heavy rainfall on a large number of days. Both days and 

 nights were much warmer than usual, the mean daily range of 

 temperature being about the average. The only cold period was 

 from the 19th to the 24th ; the last week was very warm. The 

 minimum temperature was below 32° on only about a quarter 

 the number of days in the month. The rainfall was nearly 

 double the average and greater than in any January since 1877, 

 and rain or snow fell nearly every day for the first 25 days at all 

 stations, and every day during this period at one or other. The 

 4th was the wettest day at 11 stations, the 5th at 6, the 12th at 

 35, and the 6th and r2th were the wettest at 2 stations. The 

 rainfall exceeded half an inch at 12 stations on the 4th, at 25 

 on the 5th, and at 36 on the 12th. The wind was very strong 

 during the first half of the month, and the 6th was the most 

 windy day in the year, the mean velocity throughout the day at 

 Berkhamsted being 21 miles an hour. 



February. — Of average temperature, with a humid atmo- 

 sphere, a sky of average brightness, and a rather heavy rainfall 

 on a large number of days. The mean daily range of temperature 

 was small for the month, the nights being a little warmer and 

 the days a little colder than usual. The first two days were very 

 warm, but with this exception the last half of the month was 



