RESULTS OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN 
IN CHESTER DURING 1903, 
By THE REv. J. CAIRNS MITCHELL, B.D., F.R.A.S. 
The results here given are deduced from bi-daily observations of the 
standard instruments, taken at 9-0 a.m. and g-o p.m. local mean time. 
Returns are sent to the Royal Meteorological Society, the Meteorological 
Council, the Scottish Meteorological Society, and many private observers in 
different parts of the Empire. 
JANuARY.—A warm month, being almost 13 degrees above the average. 
The day temperature exceeded 50'0° on 10 days, and the night temperature 
exceeded 40°0° on four nights. Both day and night temperatures of the 25th 
January were fully above those of the 18th June, the uniformly high night 
temperatures being the principal cause. Only nine frosts in the shade, the 
minimum temperature being 200°. Rain, both as to its amount and the 
number of days on which it fell, was above the average, especially during 
the first half of the month. There were 63 hours bright sunshine, out of a 
possible 83 hours, on the 28th. A clear, sunny month, free from fog or 
snow, with prevailing S.-Westerly winds, only rising to a fresh breeze on 
three days. I would here call special attention to a very remarkable series 
of Januaries with high mean monthly temperatures :— 1898, 7°0°; 1899, 23°; 
1900, 24°; 1901, #°; 1902, 30°; and 1903, 1° above the average of the 
past 25 years. 
FEBRUARY.—A very warm month, both night and day temperature being 
6:0° above the average. The shade minimum only fell to 32°7° once, and was 
above 40°0° on 15 nights. The maximum was above 550° on six days. The 
gth was equal in mean temperature to the 20th of August. Number of rainy 
days and amount of rainfall below the average, especially during the first 
three weeks. The prevailing wind was from the S.W., and blew a gale on 
five days. Snow was seen on the Welsh Hills on the 2nd. A shower of hail 
fell about 8 p.m. on the 1st. The temperature in the sun was above 80:0° on 
eight days. Bright sunshine was considerably above the average, 8°67 hours 
being registered on the 27th out of a possible 10°50 hours. A remarkably 
warm, dry, sunny, and windy month, with many overcast days. 
MarcH.— A very warm spring month, almost 4:0° above the average, 
principally due to the high night temperature. It only fell below 35-0° on 
three nights, and reached 500° one night. The day temperature exceeded 
60°0° twice. The rainfall was excessive ; with one single exception it rained 
every day until the 19th; rain falling on 25 days. The wind rose to the force 
of a gale on six days, all southerly. Lightning was seen on the Ist. Bright 
sunshine deficient, although 10 hours were registered on the 29th. A very 
warm, rather dull, and decidedly windy month. 
Aprit.—A cold month, 23° below the average mean temperature—the 
mean day temperature being exactly the same as March, but the night tem- 
perature 33° below it. In March the night temperature did not fall below the 
freezing point, while in April nine frosts in the shade were registered. The 
day shade temperature only twice reached 60°0°. The rainfall was a little 
above, and the number of days on which rain fell a little below, the average. 
On the 7th there was a gale from the N.W. Cloud below the average, and 
bright sunshine 23% above it—on the 8th, 11°75 hours being registered out of 
a possible 13 hours. 
May.—Exactly normal as to temperature. The minimum only once 
reached, 31°7°; and the maximum six times rose above 70°0°, reaching 75°8° 
on the 22nd. An inch more than the average amount of rain fell on four 
days more than the average number of rainy days for the month. Very 
deficient in bright sunshine, and in the temperature in the sun. Thunder- 
storms took place on the Ist, 2nd, and 5th. A rather quiet and very dull and 
sunless month, 
JuNE.—14° below the average. The maximum day temperature only 
rose to 70°0° seven times, the highest being 75°8° on the 27th. An inch less 
