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31. — Remarks on the Winter of 1878-79. 



By William Maeiuott, F.M.S. 



Communicated by J. Hopkinson, Hon. Sec. 



[Read 13tli May, 1879.] 



The recent Winter and Spring have been of such an exceptional 

 character that a few brief notes on their leading features may not 

 be "vrithout interest. 



The accompanying Table gives the average daily temperature as 

 deduced from 60 years' observations (1814-1873) at the Royal 

 Observatory, Greenwich,'* and the mean temperature for each day 

 from Octo'ber 1st, 1878, to May 31st, 1 87 9,t together with its 

 departure from the average. 



From this table it will be seen that the cold weather commenced 

 on October 27th, and continued with two or three exceptions till 

 Christmas Day. The cold was excessively intense from December 

 Gth to 25th, during which period the temperature was more than 

 10"^ below the average on eleven occasions, and did not rise to the 

 freezing-point on fifteen days ; the lowest mean temperature being 

 20°'8, or 17°-4 below the average, on December 24th. The 

 minimum temperatures were registered at most places during the 

 evening of December 24th or the morning of the 25th. The lowest 

 readings that I have been able to obtain were on the 13th, — 2°0 

 at Gainford, 8 miles W. of Darlington ; on the 24th, 2'^-5 at Buxton ; 

 and on the 25th, — 1°'0 at Gainford, 4°-8 at Cheltenham and Here- 

 ford, and 6'^-9 at Hillington. At Watford 8^-8 was registered on 

 the 25th. 



During the early part of December the air was very damp, the 

 moisture being copioiisly deposited upon trees, etc., in the form of 

 a beautiful coating of hoar-frost. Fog and mist were also preva- 

 lent, and snow fell frequently during the month, the drifts in some 

 places being so deep that railway communication, was entirely 

 suspended. 



A sudden change set in on December 26th and continued to 

 January 1 st, during which period the weather was very mild and 

 rough, affording a marked contrast to that which had previously 

 prevailed. 



On January 2nd the frost again returned, and continued with 

 the exception of the 13th, 14th, and 15th, to February 5th. 

 January 10th, 11th, and 12tli were especially cold, the mean 

 temperature on these days being more than 10° below the average. 

 The wind during this period blew generally from the E. and N.E., 

 and was strong in force. Owing to the keen dry E. wind the grass 

 in many places had the appearance of being scorched or burnt. 



* By J. Glaisher, F.R.S., ' Quarterly Journal of the Meteorological Society,' 

 vol. iii, p. 317. 



t Extended, after the reading of the paper, to this date. 



VOL. II. — PT. VII. 18 



