No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS AVEATHER. xxxi 



The weather of the month of October was devoid of con- 

 spicuous features in any of its several elements. There was 

 an average amount of sunshine and pleasant weather, and 

 also about the usual number of days on which rain fell. The 

 rainfall was practically normal in amount, and quite equably 

 distributed through the month. General rains fell on the 

 1st, 6th, 12th and 28th, and light showers on several occa- 

 sions between those dates, which maintained a very seasonal 

 condition of the soil. The temperature ranged above the 

 average for nearly the whole of the month, although the 

 excess was not marked at any time. At Boston the excess 

 averaged about 2° per day. The first general killing frost, 

 one to reach all sections, occurred on the morning of the 

 2 2d, which is about the average date. Snowflakes were 

 observed in the air, at Boston and its vicinity, on the 29th, 

 which was the first of the season. While this was earlier 

 than the usual or average for the "first snow," it has 

 occurred as early in other years. 



November opened with clear weather, and the skies were 

 generally sunny through the first four days of the month. 

 This was followed by much and persistent cloudiness, but 

 mostly without precipitation. While the skies were over- 

 cast for more than half of the days in the month, the average 

 precipitation for the State was about one-third of the normal 

 fall of the month. The chief storm, and the only general 

 one that passed over the State, was on the 26th-27th. The 

 remaining precipitation was in light amounts, and occurred 

 with local disturbances. The temperature was much above 

 the normal, the daily means being from 3° to 5° above the 

 daily normals. The temperature was also very evenly dis- 

 tributed over the territory and through the period, there 

 being no abnormally high or low readings diu-ing the month. 

 The month as a whole was exceptionally mild and pleasant. 



December, the first winter month, was unusually severe, 

 the weather being characterized by heavy and destructive 

 storms and severe cold waves. Excepting a few days at the 

 opening, and the week from the 16th to the 22d, the tem- 

 perature ranged almost continuously below the seasonal av- 

 erage. The monthly mean temperature was about 2° below 



