34 The Meteorology of 1900 



Barometee.— The highest reading of the barometer during 

 the past year occurred on the 13th March, wheu it rose to 30-687 

 in. ; the lowest was recorded on the 19th February, when it fell 

 to 28 300 in. The annual range was thus 2-387 in. The mean 

 pressure (reduced to 32 deg. and sea level) was 29-8G3 in., which 

 is very near the average. The months in which the highest mean 

 pressures occurred were March, July, and September, in all of 

 which the mean was above 30 in. The lowest were in February, 

 November, and December, which had pressures ranging from 

 29-528 in. in February to 29-701 in. in November. The reading 

 of 28-300 in. in February was abnormally low, and it is worthy of 

 note that there were no less than six days in that month — from 

 the 1 5th to the 20th — during which the barometer readings were 

 all under 29 in. Some days previously there had been a heavy 

 fall of snow, which lay upon the ground to the depth of 10 or 11 

 in., and the frost at the same time had been so severe that the 

 river was frozen over and bearing. In connection with this 

 storm there was an extensive breakdown of telegraph and tele- 

 phone wirep, and much damage done both by sea and laud. The 

 only other month in which barometer readings uftder 29 in. were 

 recorded was December, in which they occurred twice, first on 

 the 20th with a reading of 28-720 in., and again on the 28th with 

 a reading of 28-615 in. On both of these dates there was a severe 

 south-westerly storm, by which no small amount of damage was 

 done. That of the 20th seems to have been the worst in this part 

 of the country and in the northern parts of Britain generally ; but 

 in the south and west of England and Wales that of the 28th 

 appears to have wrought still greater havoc in sh.ipwrecks and 

 loss of life. December was, on the whole, the stormiest month 

 of the year. After the first week there was a series of cyclones, 

 accompanied by strong gales from the south and west and by fre- 

 quent and heavy rainfalls, which made it the wettest December 

 in the fourteen years to which my observations extend. But 

 some of the other months also had more than their usual share 

 both of wind and rain. 



Temperature in Shade, Four Feet above the Grass. — 

 The absolute maximum or highest single day temperature of the 

 year was 81 deg. on the 12th of August; the lowest or absolute 

 minimum was 6-5 deg. on the 12th of February, showing an 



