RAINFALL IN DORSET. 93 



CHETNOLE. January zyth : A sudden and violent squall upset 

 the rain gauge, and there was in all probability more than 0*40, 

 which was what remained in it. March zpth there was a very 

 heavy hailstorm, with thunder and lightning, about i p.m., and 

 on the 3oth several hailstorms. On December 6th, about 

 3.30 a.m., there was a short sharp storm of thunder and 

 lightning with hail, followed by wind and rain. 



WINTERBOURNE STEEPLETON. The rainfall of the year has 

 exceeded the average of the previous n years by 3'57in. There 

 was no long period of drought, 12 days being the longest period 

 during which no fall was recorded. This occurred between yth 

 and zoth March. 



DORCHESTER No. 2. One-third of the total rainfall occurred 

 in the first two months, which followed on a year with a total of 

 13 inches above the average. 



ROUSDON, DEVON. The year's rainfall was 3*58 inches above 

 the average of the last 20 years. June was the driest month, 

 with o'gq, and July the wettest, with 5*84 inches. This was the 

 largest record for any July since observations commenced here 

 in 1883, and included the two wettest days of the year, July 23rd, 

 i '22 inch, and July 2gth, roi inch. There were 173 rainy days 

 during the year, which is about the average number. The 

 longest dry period was 19 days in March, during which only a 

 slight shower, 0*03 inch, was recorded. In December rain 

 was measured on 16 consecutive days. On January loth, about 

 noon, 0*38 inch fell in a very short time. January i3th, about 

 5*15 p.m., a sudden squall of rain and hail passed over. 

 Lightning was seen, and as the evening advanced it became 

 more brilliant, and continued all night, with heavy thunder 

 over the Channel. Lightning was also frequent on the 

 nights of i4th and isth. This is very unusual in 

 January. On the 26th rain commenced about 9 p.m., and 

 continued till the same time next day, making 24 hours 

 continuous downpour. On 3oth, at 6 a.m., 0-40 inch fell in 

 half-an-hour. February, 1904, was the wettest of the last 

 21 years. The morning of the ist was calm, fair, and frosty, 



