RAINFALL IN DORSET. 87 



damage to roofs and greenhouses and telegraph wires and shrubs 

 and trees. August i8th: Very heavy thunderstorm from about 



4 p.m. till about 9.30 p.m. December : Mean temperature 

 6*2 above the average of the 16 previous years. Snow on 3 days 

 in February, 5 days in March. Average rainfall 16 years 

 1882-97 30'43in. 



PORTLAND. June 2 6th : Thunderstorm. 



SHAFTESBURY. November 23rd : A light fall of snow at 



5 a.m., and some snow on the 28th and 29th. 



SHERBORNE, COMBE FARM. August 1 8th : Lightning, 

 thunder, and very rough wind. November 25th : Lightning and 

 thunder at intervals for about 24 hours. 



WAREHAM, BINNEGAR HALL. February 2ist-22iid : Heavy 

 wet snow, mixed fall of rain and snow, causing much damage 

 to the trees on the north-east side, its weight breaking off and 

 twisting the branches. Snow about i foot in depth. Thunder 

 and vivid lightning on the evening of .the 2ist. 



WINTERBOURNE HERRiNGSTONE. September 3oth : Thunder. 



WINTERBOURNE HouGHTON. February : Deep snow fell the 

 night of the 2ist accompanied with lightning and thunder at 

 times ; very little wind. May 23rd : Sharp thunderstorm passed 

 over at mid-day. July 27th : Heavy thunderstorm 3 p.m. 

 August 1 8th : Thunderstorm afternoon and evening. September 

 7th : Maximum temperature of the year 85'5 ; minimum 24'5 on 

 November 2 2nd. 



WINTERBOURNE ST. MARTIN. My measurement on February 

 2ist-22nd, as recorded, was made by inverting the funnel of the 

 rain gauge over the snow in a place where it was lying quite 

 level for some distance all round, and taking up and melting 

 the contents within the circumference of the funnel. On 

 August 1 8th there were 3 severe thunderstorms, but hardly any 

 rain fell. 



WYKE REGIS, BELFIELD HOUSE. Hard rain first, then snow. 

 Gauge shewed 'gSm. rain before snow fell. 



WYKE REGIS, MARKHAM HOUSE. February 2ist: Heavy 

 fall of snow. Gauge blocked. 



