46 



METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. 



In the Table printed on the opposite page the main meteoro- 

 logical features of the twelve months — July, 1900, to June, 1901, 

 ■ — are contrasted with the averages of the corresponding records 

 for the years 1877 to 1900. 



The rainfall was very much below the average, the amount 

 in September being only a quarter of the average amount for the 

 years 1877 to 1900. In the first week in August, 1900, a con- 

 siderable amount of rain fell, culminating in a fall of 042 inches 

 on Bank Holiday, August 6th. The lowering of the temperature, 

 and the cleansing of the streets caused by this rainfall, led to a 

 considerable reduction in the usual autumnal mortality from 

 epidemic diarrhoea, the amount of this troublesome infantile 

 complaint being much less in 1900 than in preceding years. 



The accompanying Table, dealing with the years (January to 

 December) 1877 to 1900, shows that we have been passing 

 through a cycle of dry years which still continues. The accumu- 

 lated deficiency of rainfall since 1886 has been 35'7i inches. 



Since the beginning of March, 1899, a record of rainfall has 

 been kept on my behalf by Mr. Mitchell, the Head Master of 

 Pyecombe School. The differences between this record and that 

 of Brighton are shown in the following table : — 



FvECO.MBE. Brighton. 



1899 (March to December) ... 2273 ... 1800 



1900 3583 ... 27-53 



1901 (January to June) ... ii"52 ... 7'52 



70-08 53-35 



Thus, during the period of 28 months, 1673 more inches of 

 rain fell at Pyecombe than in the Old Steine, Brighton. 



Deviation from Average Rainfall (2 g- 13 inches j of 24 years, 

 1877-igoo. 



