TAKEN AT ST. ALBANS IN 1896. 



179 



In the summer (June to August) the mean pressure of the 

 atmosphere was rather high, the mean temperature was a little 

 above the average, with a considerable mean daily range, the air 

 was very dry, the sky rather bright, and the rainfall very small, 

 being but little more than half the average and on a small number 

 of days. A very dry period of four months' duration terminated 

 about the begiuuiug of August, having little more rain than fell in 

 Mai'ch, and little more than half as much as fell in September. 



In the autumn (September to November) the mean pressure 

 of the atmosphere was a little below the average, the mean 

 tcmperatiu'e was very low, with a very small daily range, the air 

 "was rather moist, the sky rather bright, and the rainfall very 

 heavy, and on a large number of days. The very low temperature 

 is almost entirely due to the coldness of October and November, 

 while the excess in the rainfall is more than accounted for by the 

 very wet September. 



The difference between these seasons and the means of the 

 seasons for 1877-86 at Watford is shown in the following table, 

 the comparison of the rainfall being with an exceptionally wet 

 series of years. 



Difference in 1895-96 frou Means of 1877-86 at "Watfokd. 



Notes on the Months. 



January, — Very mild, with about an average daily range of 

 temperature, an atmosphere of average humidity and very high 

 pressure, a very cloudy sky, and a small rainfall on less than the 

 average number of days. Coldest day 23rd, mean 32°* 8 ; warmest 

 day 17th, mean 45°-8, Min. below 32° on eleven days; max. 

 above 42° on twenty-one days. 



Febrtjart. — Rather warm, with a considerable daily range of 

 temperature, a rather humid atmosphere of very high pressure, 

 a sky of average brightness, and a very small rainfall on less than 

 the average number of days. Coldest day 26th, mean 27°* 1 ; 

 warmest days 9th, mean 45°-6, and 29th, mean 45°-8, Min. 

 below 32° on thirteen days, below 22° on one day (26th) ; max. 

 above 42° on eighteen days, above 52° on five. The only really 

 cold period was from 23rd to 27th, the mean temperature of these 

 five days being 32° (9 a.m. 30°-5, min. 25°-7, max. 39°-7). This 

 is 8°'7 below the mean for the three winter months. 



