RAINFALL IN DORSET. 5Q 



sometimes lean over before the wind. Finally, the phenomenon 

 assumed the appearance of a thick black cord against the 

 lighter cloud. From first to last the spout lasted about a 

 quarter of an hour. 



GiLLiNGHA]\r.— July loth : A house was struck by lightning 

 and somewhat badly damaged during a thunderstorm which 

 passed over the town in the afternoon. 



Lyme Regis. — August ist : Thunderstorm. 



Parkstone, Heatherlands. — The second rain gauge 

 recorded zq-^s'ni., being "Soin. above the standard. Last 

 year the excess was •73in. 



Portland, Fortune's Well. — IMay qth : Lightning and 

 thunder in evening. 12th : Distant thunder. August i6th : 

 6 p.m. to 1 1 p.m., heavy storm of lightning and thunder. 



Sherborne, Coombe Farm. — January 24th : Nearly an inch 

 of snow and hail. May 17th : Lightning and thunder. iSth : 

 Hail. June i6th : Thunder. August 16th : Lightning and 

 heavy thunder and rain to the south-west. Just the end of the 

 storm reached here. 17th : Thunderstorm in west. 



Weymouth. — July 31st : Shortly before half-past eleven, the 

 weather being dull and oppressive, with heavy black clouds, a 

 waterspout was observed in a north-east direction, apparently 

 over the cliffs between Osmington and Winfrith. The " spout," 

 which very quickly formed, was snake-like in appearance, and 

 was finally lost to view in a black cloud. The phenomenon 

 lasted for about five minutes. On the same date, about 4 p.m., 

 another spout was seen at Sherborne in a south-easterly 

 direction. 



Winterbourne Herringston. — June 13th: Temperature at 

 midday 49°. 



Winterbourne Steepleton.— The rain was more evenly 

 distributed than usual, so there was no long interval of drought. 

 The coldness of the summer, together with the great amount of 

 rain which fell in August and the first half of September, had a 

 bad effect on the harvest. 



Wyke Regis. — August iGth and September 9th : Thunder. 



