158 



THE CLIMATE OF ST. MAKY S COUNTY 



reaching +18° in Arizona and Southern California. It is — 10° between 

 the coast of Labrador and Greenland. The line of no departure lies 

 not far east of the Atlantic coast both in summer and in winter. 



Precipitation. 



Table VIII gives the monthly and annual precipitation for all stations 

 in St. Mary's County. A critical examination of the material will lead 

 to the conclusion that the annual average at St. Inigoes is above the 

 true normal for the region; the total amount for the year 1872, which 

 is 88.51 inches, is so much larger than the amount recorded anywhere 

 else in the State that it should not be used. The period covered by 

 this record (1871 to 1879) is too short to establish a normal record, 

 moreover it is known to have been one with excessive rainfall, especially 

 the years 1873, 1876, and 1879. The precipitation at Charlotte Hall 

 appears too low, though it is known that there has been a rather marked 

 deficiency in precipitation during the past 15 years in the eastern portion 

 of the United States. 



St. Mary's County receives annually slightly over 41 inches of rain- 

 fall. The greatest average occurs in July, with 4.4:5 inches, which is 

 11 per cent of the annual total, and the least falls in December, with 

 2.79 inches, which is 6 per cent of the annual amount. The precipitation 

 is small and nearly equal in amount during January, June, and Novem- 

 ber. The uniformity in the distribution of rainfall is thus notable. 

 Tables IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and XVI contain the monthly and annual 

 precipitation at all stations. 



TABLE IX. 

 Precipitation at Cherktpields, 1893-1899. 



