28 

 ABSTRACT OF A PAPER 



READ BY 



JAS. GLAISHER, Esq., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., &c. 



EXTRAORDINARY VARIATIONS IX THE WEATHER 

 BETWEEN OCTOBER, 1881, AND MAY, 1882. 



24th may, 1882. 



Temperature, 1881, October, to 1882, May. 



October, 1881. 



The weather in October was cold, and at times painfully so, 

 with winds for the most part from S.E., E., and N.E. The month 

 proved to be the coldest October abont Loudon for 64 years, 

 although the October of the year 1842 was nearly as cold. On 

 the 13th the barometer reading decreased rapidly, and the wiud 

 blew heavily from the north-west, increasing in strength during 

 the night, to a very violent gale on the morning of the 14th. On 

 this day great damage was done. About London, slates, tiles, 

 buildings in coi;rse of construction, were blown down in great 

 numbers. Large trees were uprooted, and during the morning 

 locomotion was difficult and dangerous. The gale extended all 

 over the country, many thousands of large- trees being blown 

 down; there was loss of life at many places, and great damage 

 to property everywhere both on land and sea. The month was 

 almost free from thunderstorms, and but little lightning was 

 seen; snow fell on the 15th at Wrottesley, and at this time the 

 mountains in "Wales were white with snow, as also were those in 

 Cumberland at the end of the month. 



The mean temperature of the air for October was 45°"3, 

 being 3^-5 and 4°-8 below the average of 110 years and 40 years 

 respectively; it was 0°-9 and 3°-8 lower than in 1880 and 1879 

 respectively. 



Back to 1771 there have been but five Octobers so cold as 

 this, viz. : — 



