
13 
average number of rainy days. A very large number of overcast days made 
the month most dreary. Prevailing winds from S.W. High N.W. winds 
in second week. A rather bright, warm, calm, and dry week at the close 
slightly redeemed the bad character of the month. * 
SEPTEMBER. — Also below the average temperature three-quarters-of-a- 
degree. Average in bright sunshine. Deficient in rainfall three-quarters-of- 
an-inch. First week very warm. Severe gales from W.S.W. on 3rd, and 
on 16th and 17th from W. Prevailing winds S.-Westerly. Halo on 18th. 
Heavy dews. 
OcToBER. —2:0° above the average temperature. Only two-thirds of the 
usual amount of bright sunshine. Rainfall half-an-inch short of average, but 
number of days on which rain fell excessive ; fully one-and-a-quarter-inches 
falling on the 9th. Gale from N.W. on 16th. Haloon 14th. Frost on the 
ground on two nights. 14 overcast days. A warm but dismal, dripping 
month. 
NOVEMBER. — 1-3° above average temperature, with two very cold days 
(21st and 22nd), Rainfall one inch short of the average. Suushine normal. 
Three frosts in shade (Stevenson screen), and 15 days overcast. Hoar-frost 
two days. 
DECEMBER. —Fully 2-0° above the average temperature. Three-quarters- 
of-an-inch short in rainfall. A rather dull, warm equable month, with gales 
from S. and W. on the 14th and 18th, and a very severe gale from W. on 
25th. Thunderstorm on the 3oth. Hoar-frost and severe cold all through 
the first week. 
As the tables give the meteorological elements for the year 1902 only, 
it is desirable to add a comparison of the winter and spring months of the 
present year in brief. 
SHADE TEMPERATURE, AND DIFFERENCE 
FROM AVERAGE. 
Winter of 1902-3. Spring of 1903. 
December .. oe 41°19+1°5° | March ee «- 46°29-+3°8° 
January = ee 39°92 +41°3° April - os 44°5°—2°6° 
February .. +» 45°9°-+6-02 May as +» 52°6°+0°22 
Mean +e od, eae et 22° Mean ‘ 47°8°-+0°5° 
THE WINTER MontTHs.—December and Fanuary about 1°5 degrees 
above the average temperature; and February fully 6:0 degrees above it. 
The abnormally warm December and January, followed by an unprece- 
dentally warm February, made one of the mildest winters on record. 
THE SPRING MontHs —March 33 degrees above the average carried 
forward the promise of an early spring, and stimulated vegetation to a 
remarkable extent. Agri/ fully 24 degrees colder than the average, with 
keen frosts, blighting east winds, and sunless days made havoc with bud and 
blossom. J/ay a normal month, but with bitter cold winds kept vegetation 
back, and made a cold late season, somewhat redeemed by a very fine, warm, 
Sunny week at the close of the month, but too late to save the complete 
blighting of the early blossoms. March was the wettest March of the past 
27 years. ‘ 
NOTEWORTHY PHENOMENA OF 102. 
Greatest atmospheric pressure ....... sees 30°915 in., 31st January 
Least * = 1 oStete Bae ets 28-808 in., 29th December 
Hottest day in shade ...... ..... ce seeeee 85°6 degs., 14th July 
Coldest night in shade ........ ........+. 6°6 degs., 12th February 
Greatest range of temperature in 24 hours ., 35°3 degs,, 14th July 
Least Pe = a .. 2°1 deg., 26th November 
Hottest dayinsun ..... ....... seveceee I21°5 degs., 29th June 
