No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS WEATHER. xxxvii 



to 10 inclies, and at the close of the month the ground was 

 bare. 



The precipitation and temperature of April were below 

 the normal, though the departures were not great in any 

 section. The mininmni temperatures occurred on the 4th 

 and nth. The precipitation was well distributed through the 

 month, there being few days without measurable amounts in 

 some section of the State. At the close of the month the 

 season was considered somewhat later than the average. 



The opening week of May was cold and unpleasant, but 

 by the 10th the weather became warmer and generally sea- 

 sonable, with sunshine near the average, and continued 

 throughout the month, with slight exceptions. General mod- 

 erate to heavy showers occurred on the 23d, and scattered 

 local showers on several other days. The precipitation for 

 the month as a whole was considerably below the average 

 for the month of May. 



June was exceptionally pleasant, with much sunny 

 weather. The precipitation was deficient in about all sec- 

 tions of the State, while the temperature of the month was 

 considerably above the average, the monthly means ranging 

 from 2° to 4° above the June normal. There were no general 

 rains during the month, the precipitation being the result 

 of local showers and storms. At the close of the month vege- 

 tation was suffering from drought. 



The drought continued uninterruptedly until the middle 

 of July. From the IGtli to the 20th, inclusive, showers were 

 quite general, with rainfall ranging from light to copious. 

 The rains of the latter half of the month were of great ben- 

 efit to vegetation, and temporarily broke the drought. There 

 was an nii usual prevalence of sunshine during the month. 

 The temperature was uniformly high, ranging from 2° to 5° 

 above the normal, with temperatures above 90° on from ten 

 to fourteen days. 



From the 4tli to the 7th of August there were frequent 

 thunderstorms, with copious rainfall, which was of much 

 benefit. Thundorshowers again occurred on the 11th, l'3th 

 and 17th, with rainfall from 1 to 2 inches, in western sec- 



