REMARKS. 



The weather for May was characterized by lack of raiu and sud- 

 den and violeut changes in temperature. The mean temperature 

 for the week beginning the 4th was 69.5 degrees which is the high- 

 est temperature ever recorded at this station so early in the year. 

 On the i2th a period of cold weather set in, lasting until about the 

 22nd and reaching the low temperature of 29.5'^ and 30'^ on the 14th 

 and 17tii days respectively. There were heavy frosts on the last 

 named dates which did some damage to small fruits in this section. 

 The temperature for the last ten days of the month was high and 

 this with the previous warm weather raised the mean to three 

 degrees above normal. Dry weather prevailed during the month, 

 the precipitation being nearly two inches below normal. 



The following is furnished by the N. E. Weather Service : 



Four cyclones and four anticyclones controlled the* weather for 

 our state for the month of May, and these although small in number 

 brought unusual weather changes. The week ending the 12th was 

 reported by many to be the warmest spell of weather experienced so 

 early in the season for many years, if ever before. The crops that 

 were in the ground made great growth, while buds and leaves came 

 out on the tiees in a day almost. The arrangement of atmospheric 

 pressure that brought these conditions was as usual in such weather ; 

 a large poorly defined high pressure area spreading slowly off the 

 middle Atlantic coast on to the ocean, and considerably lower pres- 

 sure to the north, but with no well delined storm within the range of 

 observation. The air moved very sluggishly and brouglit heat and 

 moisture from the south, while the general absence of clouds allowed 

 the heat from the sun to reach the ground and crops freely. The 

 storm of the 12th was the first well defined for the month, and fol- 

 lowing this was a marked cold-wave in only a slight ridge of high 

 atmospheric pressure. It gave general frosts on the morning of the 

 14th, though clouds prevented much damage on the 13th. Another 

 storm moved quickly along, passing to the south of New England 

 and up the coast on the 14th and 1.5th, and was in turn followed by 

 another wave of colder weather and frosts on the 17th. In these 

 frosts considerable damage resulted to grapes, and small fruits, but 

 it is not thought tliat apple or other large fruits were injured to any 

 marked extent. Cranberry bogs that could not be fiowed were 

 badly injured. 



Another warm wave at the close of the month makes this May 

 considerable warmer than usual. At Boston the excess in tempera- 

 ture averaged over 4 degrees a day. There was plenty of precipita- 

 tion in the extreme southeastern districts, but in the center and 

 west it is too dry foi- the best growth of grass and field and garden 

 crops. 



F. L. WARREN, Observer. 



