210 METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1868, 



violent gales of wind during the month. On the 31st several 

 large beech trees were uprooted. On the 26th some shooting 

 stars were remarked. 



Lilburn Tower. — The year began with sudden changes from 

 frost to fresh, with frequent showers and gales of wind. On the 

 whole the weather was very open. The snowfall v/as light and 

 of short duration. 



Whitley. — A large meteor was seen in N.W. on the 15th. 



Wylam. — A mild, changeable month, as the fluctuations of 

 the barometer indicated. 



A great deal of wind, sometimes very heavy, accompanied by 

 sudden falls of I'ain, which brought down the Tyne in floods as 

 sudden ; for instance, on the 13th, at 6 p.m., the river was four 

 feet deep at Wylam Bridge ; but at 10 p.m. had risen to sixteen 

 feet, and fell again to 4-5 feet at 9 a.m. of the 14th. 



The barometer fell, with sudden fluctuations, from 30*136 on 

 the 9th, to 28"339 on the 19th, and then rose, with similar 

 fluctuations, to about 30-000 on the 26th. There was a gale 

 of wind from the S. on the 24th, which was felt all over England 

 and Scotland : it commenced in Caithness much earlier than 

 here. Mean height of barometer 29"756 inches. 



Mean temperature of the month 38"47°. 



Ditto of thirteen years (1856 to 1868 both included) 37-04°. 



Excess of 1868 1-43°. 



The lowest temperature of the year was on the 4th, when it 

 fell to 22°. 



Mean direction of wind, W. 10° S. 



Eain fell on ten days, snow on eight, total amount, 3'15 inches. 



Mean height of river at Wylam Bridge, 3*06 feet. 



Darlington. — The month set in with frost and snow. There 

 was a heavy fall of snow on the 3rd, changing to rain on the 4th. 



Lunar Halos were seen at North Shields on the 29th ; at 

 Hendon on the 5th, 10th, and 15th. 



