No. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS WEATHER. xxxvii 



although snow fell in all sections at some time during the 

 month. The largest amount for the month, so far as offi- 

 cially reported, was at Pittsfield, where 6 inches fell, on the 

 9th. The depth there, particularly in country roads, was 

 sufficient to impede travel. A severe ice storm occurred in 

 the vicinity of Leeds, which did much damage to fruit trees. 

 The month was marked by abnormally high monthly mean 

 temperature. The mean for the State was 42.7°, which is 

 about 2° in excess of the normal. The month as a whole 

 was one of much unpleasant weather, and generally unfa- 

 vorable to outdoor work. 



The weather of Deceml)er was also made up of much 

 cloudiness. The month was, however, conspicuous for few 

 stormy days, and for a marked deficiency in the average pre- 

 cipitation. Snow or rain occurred, in measurable amounts, 

 on an average of but 6 days, and the average monthly 

 amount for the State was 2.06 inches, which is about 1 inch 

 less than the normal. The snowfall was unusually light, the 

 largest amount for the month being 6 inches at Pittsfield. 

 The chief disturbance of the month was the storm from the 

 3d to the 5th. It was of southern origin, and moved north- 

 ward along the coast. It was attended by winds of hurricane 

 force, which were destructive to life and to property. The 

 temperature record for December, viewed as a whole, shows 

 the weather to have been less severe than usual. When 

 examined in detail, however, it is found that for a period of 

 10 days to a fortnight, embraced in the second and third 

 decades, there was much cold weather. The monthly mean 

 for the State was 3.4°, which is 1° below the normal. Gen- 

 erally speaking, the weather was fairly representative of the 

 first winter month. 



