SQ ALLISON — ON THE METEOROLOGY OF HALIFAX. 



1869 fifty days ; the first snow flakes were ten days later than 

 average, and the latest since 1863 ; first measurable snow, however, 

 was ten days early ; the first frost twelve days late, and about four 

 days longer than the average. 



Thanking my hearers for bearing with the recital of these 

 figures, I turn for a little while to another phase of meteorology, not 

 more important than statistics, — less so indeed in the sense that a 

 superstructure depends for support upon its foundation, — ^but more 

 generally interesting. A gale on the 4th September, 1870, is 

 mentioned in the above record, and probably not forgotten in Hali- 

 fax, as one of the most severe storms ever experienced here. This 

 was a cyclone, as proved by the following facts : 



The 3rd September was damp and sultry. Between 9 p. m. 

 and midnight Barometer fell one-tenth ; wind S. S. E. , fifteen 

 miles per hour. 4th, 3.40 a. m. fine rain driven by a 41b S. E. 

 wind, Barometer falling faster, and temperature high and almost 

 steady ; 4.5 a. m., the ball opened with a vivid flash of lightning, 

 quickly repeated and followed by low grumbling thunder. The 

 wind now rapidly increased, with violent showers, till 6 a. m., 

 from same quarter; rain then measured .19 inch, and fell subse- 

 quently in light dashes. At 6 o'clock the Anemometer was revolv- 

 ing at 57.9 miles per hour, force 17.3 lbs per square foot. Dur- 

 ing the next hour the gale, still S. E., was at its height here, com- 

 pleting 65.7 miles in that time, with some gusts at rate of 70 

 miles. It was in that period that the chief damage was done here ; 

 the carriage factory on the common unroofed, and many trees, 

 fences, &c., blown down. These accidents are not to be wondered 

 at, when it is remembered that the wind was occasionally exerting 

 a pressure of fully 24.5 lbs. on every square foot. With some 

 variations wind was less after this, veering towards south. At 10 

 a. m. it was due south, and a comparative lull was experienced 

 from 10 J to 11 a. m. Barometer corrected for altitude, and re- 

 duced for temperature, reached the minimum, 28.952 at 9 J a. m. 

 At noon the gale was partially renewed from S. W., and though 

 declining, blew strongly till 5 p. m., when direction was from W., 

 rate 34.8 miles per hour, Barometer 29.542, and rose another tenth 

 in succeeding hour. Sky clear at 5 J p. m., when gale had passed. 



