164 J. HOPKINSON METEOROLOGICAL OESEKVATIOXS 



The year 1894 was ratlier warm, the excess of temperature 

 occurring in the early part of spring and towards the close of the 

 year, the summer being rather cold. The mean daily range of 

 temperature was less than usual, and although the low minimum 

 of 10°"9 occurred in January, the absolute range was not great, the 

 maximum not exceeding 81°"6. The temperature was considerably 

 above the average in March, April, November, and December, and 

 considerably below it in May, August, and September. The mean 

 pressure of the atmosphere was above the average of the ten years 

 1877-86 at Watford. The lowest pressures recorded at 9 a.m. were 

 29'150 ins. on 14th November and 29-156 ins. on 13th March, and 

 the highest was 30*642 ins. on 27th December, giving a range 

 of 1-4 92 in. The rainfall was a little above the average of the 

 ten years 1877-86, and much above a long-period average. The 

 number of wet days was much greater than usual. August, 

 October, and November were very wet months ; February, June, 

 and September were rather (by. The air was a little more humid 

 than usual. The prevaiKng direction of the wind was from south, 

 through soixth-west to west. 



In the winter of 1& 93-94 (December to February) the mean 

 pressure of the atmosphere was about the average, the mean 

 temperature a little above the average, with a considerable mean 

 daily range, the air was of average humidity, the sky a little 

 brighter than usual, and the rainfall about the average, though 

 there was an unusually large number of wet days. There was only 

 one cold period of considerable duration, the twelve days from 30th 

 December to 10th January. There were ten days in succession in 

 December (18th to 27th), thirteen in January (11th to 23rd), and 

 twelve in February (2nd to 13th) without a single night on which 

 the temperature of the air fell below freezing point. 



In the spring (March to May) the mean pressure of the atmo- 

 sphere was rather high, the mean temperature was high with 

 about an average mean daily range, the air was rather humid, 

 the sky of average brightness, and the rainfall rather hea\y, but 

 on about the usual number of days. The high mean temperature 

 was due more to the warmth of the days than of the nights, 

 the mean daily range being considerable. Owing to the warmth 

 and moisture the weather was very favourable to vegetation. 



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

 was again rather high, the mean temperature was low, excejit in 

 July, when it was about the average, the daily range of temperature 

 was small, the air rather humid, the sky of average brightness, 

 and the rainfall rather heavy and on an unusually large number 

 of days. While very favourable to vegetation during the early 

 part of the summer, the weatlicr was disappointing towards the 

 end, there being very few fine days together to favour hay -making. 



In the autumn (September to November) the pressure of the 

 atmosphere was very high, the mean temperature was about the 

 average, the daily range of temperature was small, the air rather 

 humid, the sky rather cloudy, and the rainfall excessive and 



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