164 



A sharp thunderstorm between five and seven this morning', producinp; 

 l'12)n. of rain, having finished the second absohite drought of this summer, it will 

 probably be of general interest to know to what extent the drought of this year 

 has been exceptional. 



Mr. Prince's record at this observatory goes back to 1871 ; but long before 

 that he was observing at Uckfield, and as the record has been continued in that 

 town up to the present time, the Uckfield record will form the basis of this note. 

 It is one of the best in the country, being absolutely continuous from 1842 to the 

 present time, subject only to the gauge having been moved 300 yards when 

 Mr. Prince left Uckfield to reside here. 



There has long been a want of a clear and unmistakable definition of a 

 drought, but as those which I suggested a few years since seem to be generally 

 accepted, I shall adhere to them— at any rate until something better is proposed. 

 These definitions are : — Absolute drought — a period of 14 or more days with no 

 measurable rainfall. Partial drought — a period of 28 or more days with not more 

 than 0*25in. of rain. 



At Uckfield there have been this year two absolute droughts, the first from 

 June 4th to July 3rd (both inclusive), or 30 days, the second July 30th to August 

 15th, or 17 days. 



A 17 days' absolute drought is not unusual ; during the 45 years embraced 

 by the Uckfield record there have been 46 such droughts ; but 30-day absolute 

 droughts are very rare. The following are the only previous instances : — 



, Year. 

 1842 

 1844 

 1846 

 1887 



The partial drought this year has also been exceptional, as the following 

 figures will show, they being all the partial droughts equal to or exceeding 1887: — 



Fall during 



The above letter induced Mr. R. Sheward, F.K.M.S., writing from 

 Howard Square, Eastbourne, on August 24th, 1887, to give his distinction 

 between a drought and a great drought as follows : — 



