METEOROLOGICAL NOTEt; DURING THE YEAR 1903. 156 



during tlit- latter part of December. Though cold, the fiue 

 bracing day was a blessing to the thousands who were on 

 holiday in and out of town. The pleasant change, however, was 

 of short duration, as rain began to fall late at night, and 

 by 9 a.m. on the 2nd the amount registered was 0"82 inch. 

 Changeable, cold, wet weather was experienced until the 8th, 

 when, with a N.-E. wind, there was a sharp touch of frost. 

 On the 9th there was a fall of snow to the depth of fully 

 4 inches, which, followed by slushy rain, made the condition 

 of the streets extremely unpleasant for pedestrians. Frost set 

 in again on the 11th, and continued with some severity for 

 ten days. During the prevalence of the frost the fog fiend 

 was in evidence, particularly on the 12th and 13th, when its 

 density in the City was veiy pronounced. A change set in 

 on 21st, after which, until the end of the month, stormy, wet, 

 unsettled weather predominated. 



The atmospheric pressure was ei'ratic and wide in range. 

 From 29"30 inches on tlie 1st it fell to 28"90 inches on the 

 3rd, rising again to 29*45 inches on the 5th, then falling to 

 28-70 inches on the 7th, then up to 29-40 inches on the 8th. 

 With a slight fall on the 9th, when the snowstorm occuiTed, 

 there was a steady rise aftenvards, until on the 14th it was up 

 to 30-40 inches. Thereafter, with moderate variations, it fell, 

 and at the end of the month it was at 29-40 inches, with a 

 tendency downwards. 



As indicated, the frosts were somewhat severe, and as on 

 seven days the thermometer did not rise above freezing point 

 (32° Fahr.), the average temperatures for the month are low, 

 the maximum being 39° and the minimum 31°, against 43° 

 and 33° respectively for the corresponding month of 1902. 



Frost was registered on 13 days to the amount of 115°, the 

 lowest reading being on the 13th, when 20° of frost were 

 recorded. 



The rainfall was heavy, 7-04 inches being registered, part 

 of which was melted snow. The greatest amount for one day 

 was 0-92 on the 3rd. There were 13 dry days. 



Consequent on the cold, ungenial conditions, vegetation made 

 no apparent movement. The grass lands, indeed, looked ex- 

 tremely dismal. 



