Note.—The observations are taken at 9 a.m., except at Redhill, 
Reigate Hill (Nutwood Lodge), Addington (Park Farm), and Brixton 
(8 a.m.), and Croydon (Waddon New Road) (10 a.m.). 
NOTES. 
(December, 1896.) 
The month has been a wet one, with a rainfall, if we may take the 
long average at Greenwich as fairly representing the district, of about 
an inch and a quarter above the average. The month has been warm 
and sunless. Fogs have been very prevalent, that on the 16th at 
Wallington, and on the 21st at Sidcup, being especially bad. Snow 
fell throughout the district on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, and at some 
places on the 15th as well; at Merstham the snow, on the 20th, one 
inch in depth yielded 08 in. of water. The month has been very 
unhealthy, influenza being very prevalent. At Croydon (Park Hill) 
the maximum temperature was 50° and upwards on four days, and 
40° and upwards on twenty-one days. Lightning was seen at Upper 
Gatton on the 4th, and hail fell there on the 5th. A solar halo was 
seen at Nutfield on the 4th, and one at Upper Gatton on the 13th. 
At Upper Gatton a brilliant meteor was seen at 7.54 p.m. on the 18th, 
emitting bright sparks, followed shortly afterwards by a loud explosion; 
it was visible for 3”, and was first seen in the E.S.E. travelling N.E. 
_ The mean temperature of the month is about the average, and was at 
_ Croydon (Whitgift) 40-1°, at Wallington 39-7°, at Croydon (Duppas 
House) 39°3°, at Waddon 38-8°, at Chipstead 87-9°, and at Upper 
B Gatton 36°. There were recorded at Hayes Common 26:7 hours, and 
Wallington 23-3 hours of sunlight, which latter amount is 6 per cent. 
below the December mean of the ten years 1886-95. 
F. Campseu-Bayarp, F.R.Met.Soc., 
Hon. See. 
