Eeport of the 'Meteorological 8%Cb-Committee for 1898. 121 



August. 

 The month was fine, dry, and extremely warm. After the 

 first six days, which were cool and rather wet, hot weather set 

 in on Bank Holiday, and continued until the 22nd. The heat 

 during this period was greater than has ever been observed at 

 Greenwich. For a full fortnight the maximum rose every day 

 well over 80°, and for three days over 90°. The 18th was alto- 

 gether unique, for it not only exhibited the highest temperature 

 ever known in August (95-1°), but it was absolutely the hottest 

 day ever known at the Royal Observatory, its mean being 79-6°, 

 or 0-1° warmer than July 15th, 1881. The mean value for the 

 week ending the 19th was 73-6°, and this value was for a week 

 also the highest known at Greenwich. The last week was much 

 cooler, but this decline in temperature only reduced its previous 

 excess, for the month's mean at Greenwich was 65-5°, or 0'1° 

 higher than in either 1842 or 1857, the hottest Augusts known 

 before this year. The mean temperature of the month is about 

 4" above the average, and was at Kenley 63-2°, at Waddon 640°, 

 at Beddington 64-7°, and at Wallington 65-4°. The duration of 

 sunlight at Wallington was 48 per cent, of the possible duration, 

 being 3 per cent, above the average. 



Skptembee. 



This was a month of most enjoyable weather, being free from 

 the heat of the preceding months, and also free from the damp 

 and wind usually marking the beginning of autumn. The first 

 half of the month was dry and fine, and it was not till the end 

 that the greater part of the rain fell. Mean temperature was 

 about the average, being at Kenley 56-3°, at Beddington 56-6°, at 

 Waddon 57-1°, and at Wallington 57-5°. Sunlight at Wallington 

 was 41 per cent, of the possible duration, being a deficiency on 

 the average of 3 per cent. 



October. 



The month was warm and rather wet, but withal a pleasant 

 one. It is noticeable that the 11th and 22nd were practically the 

 only two wet days since the beginning of March. The mean 

 temperature was about 3° above the average, and was at Kenley 

 51-1°, at Wallington 51-7°, and at Waddon 52-0°. Sunlight at 

 Wallington was 34 per cent, of the possible duration, being 1 per 

 cent, under the average. 



November. 



This has, like several months in the present year, been rather 

 a remarkable one. It will be noted for its low mean minimum 

 temperature in the shade, which is the lowest in the Wallington 

 record, which goes back to 1884, and the mean maximum in the 



