KAIJTFAXL IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1893. 41 



July. — A rather wet month, with rain on a large number of 

 days, mostly between 8th and 26th. On 9th the fall was consider- 

 able at one station ; on 1 2th it was excessive at Gorhambury 

 (2-18 ins.), great at Brocket Hall (I'lO in.), vertj considerable at 

 three stations, and considerable at one; and on 19th there was a 

 considerable fall at two stations. On 25th the fall was great at 

 Iloyston (rO-i in.), and considerable at two stations; on 26th it 

 was great at the Old Nui-series, Cheshunt (1*04 in.), and consider- 

 able at three stations ; and on 30th it was considerable at one 

 station. Severe thunderstorms occurred in several parts of the 

 county on the 8th and 9th (Saturday and Sunday). At Royston 

 on the Saturday a house was struck by the lightning and much 

 damaged. The chimney was partly demolished, a large portion of 

 the brickwork of the outer wall being forced out, and the bricks 

 sent flying a considerable distance. The window-frames were 

 shattered, and the water-supply pipe was cut in two. At Hertford 

 on the same day the storm is reported as exceptionally severe, the 

 rain falling in torrents and some of the rain-drops being as large in 

 diameter as a shilling. At Bengeo two horses were struck by the 

 lightning and killed, and at Thundridge two stacks of straw were 

 set on fire and totally destroyed. The greatest fall of rain in 

 either of the two days was 0o2 in. at High Down, Hitchin, on 

 the Sunday. Thunderstorms also occurred on 25th, 26th, and 

 31st. 



August. — Kainfall a little above the average, on about the usual 

 number of days. There was a considerable fall on the 1st at four 

 stations ; on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, at one ; on the 9th at four ; and 

 on the 22nd at one. On the 31st the fall was very considerable 

 at six stations and considerable at six. There were thunderstorms 

 on 4th and 10th with heavy rain. On the 4th, at Datch worth 

 Rectory, 0*44 in. fell in 20 minutes; and on the 10th, at Rose- 

 bank, Berkhamsted, 0'52 in. fell in the same time. At St. Albans 

 on the loth the lightning was very vivid, the rain torrential for a 

 few minutes, and large hailstones fell. As this storm occurred at 

 about 3 a.m. the rain was of course registered to the 9th. 



September. — Rainfall very small, and on rather less than the 

 average number of days. Most of the rain fell duiing the latter 

 part of the month. On 8th the fall was considerable at three 

 stations, and on 26th at two. On 23rd there was a gale with 

 heavy rain and hail in many places in the county. 



October. — Rainfall very heavy, but on little more than the usual 

 number of days. The first half of the month was much wetter 

 than the second half, but the excess was chiefly due to the fall 

 on one day (the 9th). On 5th the fall was considerable at three 

 stations ; on 6th at one ; and on 7th very considerable at one, and 

 considerable at six. On 9th the fall was excessive at Oaklands, 

 Watford (2-72 ins.), Frogmore, Watford (2-51 ins.), Nash Mills, 

 Hemel Hempstead (2-16ins.), and The Grange, St. Albans (2-02ins.); 

 very heavy at Apslcy Mills, Hemel Hempstead (1*92 in.); heavy 

 at Gorhambury, St. Albans (1-74 in.), Rothamsted, Harpenden 



