212 RAINFALL IN DORSET. 



Although the rainfall in September did not reach lin. at any 

 Dorset station, it must have exceeded that amount in some places 

 during a thunderstorm on the night of the 6th-7th, when I'GOin. 

 was measured at Larmer and l'59in. at Rushmore. On this 

 occasion the heaviest falls near the central path of the storm were 

 35in. at West Mellow, *33in. at Portisham, *27in. at Langton 

 Herring, 'ISin. at Steepleton, '7Sin. at Martin's Town (Winter- 

 bourne St. Martin), '38in. at Cattistock, '62in. at Dorchester, 

 37in. at Haselbury Bryan, '4 lin. at Sturminster Newton, '24in. 

 at Whatcombe, and '35m. at Shaftesbury. The partial distribution 

 of thunderstorm rain is further shewn by there having been only 

 02in. at Wyke Regis, Portland, Swanage, and Verwood on the 

 right of the main storm path and the same amount at Blackdown 

 on the left. 



The wettest day in the year generally was January 12th, at the 

 commencement of a break in the long frost, when a fall of snow, 

 changing to rain the next day, exceeded an inch at about three- 

 fourths of the stations. On April 24th more than an inch of rain 

 fell at the majority of the stations ; and November was a rainy 

 month, only two days being without rain. 



The rainfall exceeded lin. at one or more of the stations on 

 2 days in January, 3 days in April, 1 day in June, 3 days in 

 October, 6 days in November, and 1 day in December. 



With regard to the rainfall at Haselbury Bryan, both this year 

 and last the ratio to the average hitherto adopted has been the 

 lowest in the list (Table II.). Such an occurrence two years in 

 succession at one place needs examination. In every year from 

 1888, when observations began, up to 1893, more rain was 

 measured at Haselbury Bryan than at any other station ; but last 

 year it was exceeded at Cheddington, and this year it stands third 

 of the 17 stations where corresponding observations have been 

 made since 1888, the total being greater at Cheddington and 

 Cattistock. For the purpose of this investigation the ratio of the 

 annual rainfall to the period 1888-95 has been computed for each 

 of the 17 stations, and is set forth in Table III., Haselbury Bryan 



