TAKEX AT -WANSFORD DOUSE, WATFORD, 1880. 255 



FEBRrARY. — Mild and wet, the first month since Oct. 1878 with 

 the mean temperature appreciably above the average, and the first 

 •vret mouth since Sept. 1879. The first six days were the coldest 

 (mean 34"-0, max. 51" 7, min. 24°-0). Max. above 52° on 4 days; 

 niin. below 32° on 11. Pressure, generally low, sank from 30"251 

 ins. on 13th to 29-022 ins. on 16th, the only rapid change. From 

 commencement of depression rain fell every day for ten days (14th 

 to 2ord) exceeding half an inch on 16th and 20th. Wind southerly 

 first three weeks and then westerly. Hail fell on 8th, and also on 

 20th during a thunderstorm. 



March. — Mild, dry, and very bright, and with no decided change 

 in temperature. Max. above 52" on 19 days, above 62° on 1 ; 

 min. below 32° on 7. Pressure also more equable than usual. 

 Eain fell only on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 31st. N. and E. winds 

 prevailed after 7th, and westerly before. The early part of the 

 month was stonny, especially 2nd and 3rd. 



April. — Dull, wet, and stormy, and with an equable tempera- 

 ture, except on three days, 17th to 19th, which were much warmer 

 than the rest (mean 54"- 1, max. 66°-4, min. 34°-3). Max. above 

 52° on 19 days, above 62° on 2; min. below 42 on 22°. Pres- 

 sure, from a min. of 29-277 ins. on 6th, increased to 30-268 ins. 

 on 9th, the only rapid change. Rain fell every day to 9th, and on 

 eight days afterwards. Hail fell on 1st, 6th (during a thunder- 

 storm), 8th, and 20th. The wind was due JST.E. every day from 

 9th to 15th, and from 26th to 30th. 



Mat. — Bright and very dry, both as to the amount of rainfall 

 and presence of moisture in the air. On 20th temperature rose 

 decidedly. 



19th mean 4"°-6 max. GC-S min. ST-T 



17th to 19th ,, 48''-2 ,, 60^-3 „ 31°-7 



20th „ 64''-5 ,, 64°-4 ,, 49°-2 



20th to 22nd ,, 57'-8 ,, 72''-8 „ 46°-6 



Towards the end of the month it became rather cooler. Max. above 

 62° on 13 days, above 72° on 4; min. below 32° on 3. The max. 

 on 26th (81°- 7) is remarkably high for May. No rain fell between 

 10th and 27th. Wind N.E. every day from 1st to 18th. 



JrxE. — Wet, didl, and with a humid atmosphere. Temperature, 

 slightly higher after 12th than before, rose again on IKth. Max. 

 above 72° on 4 days; min. below 42° on 4. Rain fell every day 

 except 10th to 13th, l7th, 20th, 21st, and 27th to 29th. Thunder- 

 storms occurred on the afternoon or evening of four successive days, 

 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th. 



jpi^Y. — Very wet, and humid. Temperature rose about the 

 12th, and fell decidedly on 30th, the mean of that and following 

 day being 4°-l below that of the month. Max. above 72° on 5 

 days ; min. below 52° on 9. Pi-ain fell every day except 4th, 5th, 

 10th, 16th, 20th to 23rd, and 27th. Thunder was frequently 

 heard, and thunderstorms occurred on 14th, 17th, and 18th. On 

 the 21st there was a very severe thunderstorm at St. Albans, with 

 heavy rain ; at Watford thunder was heard, but no rain fell. 



