RAINFALL IN DORSET. 141 



rainfalls during those 32 years: 1887 = 28*26, 1892 28*52, 

 1898 = 29*48. Highest: 1882 = 47*02, 1891 =47*04. 



BROADWINDSOR, BLACKDOWN HOUSE. Thunder heard 

 March 14 and 15, June 14, and November 12. 



BROADWINDSOR VICARAGE. April 23: Severe hailstorm about 

 9 p.m. August 29: Thunderstorm 6.45 p.m. November 15: 

 Aurora borealis observed at 9 p.m., two scarlet clouds. 



CHEDINGTON COURT. March 14 and 15 we had thunder, 

 lightning, and hailstorms. During the greater part of May the 

 wind was extremely cold and dry, and from 4 to 24 it blew from 

 N.W. without a change. This year's rainfall, 33*31, is below 

 the average, which for the last eight years is 36*61. 



CHETNOLE. March was wetter and milder than usual ; May 

 unusually dry, with much sunshine and uncommonly cold nights, 

 ten frosts during the month and average night temperature only 

 just over 35. In October night temperature very low, frost on 

 fifteen nights, and very sharp from 14 to 26, when there was 

 nine to ten degrees of frost in the screen. 



WINTERBOURNE STEEPLETON. A very dry year, the rainfall 

 being just over seven inches short of the average of the previous 

 twelve years. In that period only two years have had a smaller 

 rainfall viz., 1893 and 1898. The longest period of drought 

 was 14 days viz., September 14 to 27. In July out of the total, 

 '5> 0*38 fell on the ioth, thus leaving only 0*12 as the rainfall 

 of the other 30 days. 



