1886-1887.] 553 



MONTHLY NOTES. 



..♦. - 



Not often are we favoured with such, a fine season throughout as 1887. 

 Sunshine was in excess in nearly every month of the year. Storms were very 

 few ; and with the exception of two nights in January, there was not any really 

 extreme frost during the whole year. Except June, the heat was not extreme 

 at any time, though the summer was M'arm. There was, indeed, drought in 

 excess, and the greater part of Ireland felt the want of rain most seiiously 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



Of the twelve months of 1887, ten were drier than usual, and two had 

 average rainfalls. Five were colder than usual ; five warmer than usual ; one 

 of great heat, and one of average temperature. 



Mean temperature of the whole year 1"04 degrees higher than 1886, and 

 0" 09 of a degree above the average of nineteen years. 



The gauge of rainfall was less than that of last year by 13*49 inches, with 

 a decrease of 43 wet days, and less than the 19 years average by 11-98 inches, 

 with 20 wet days below the average. The deficiency of rain for the whole year 

 was 12*12 tons to the statute acre. 



January was our coldest month. In its opening weeks it threatened for 

 a time to rival the frosts of the early parts of 1886, when for a period of 78 

 days 52 degrees was only once reached ; but the frost of January, 1887, was 

 short-lived, it was gone by the 18th, and the rest of the month was exceedingly 

 mild and pleasant. The coldest day of Jannary was also the coldest day of 1 887. 

 On the morning of that day the shaded temperature fell to 11, or 21 degrees of 

 frost. 



February was all through a fine month, bright, sunny, and mild. There 

 was a brief period of frost from the 9th to the 16th, but with that exception it 

 was genial and springlike. The lowest point touched was 25 degrees on the 10th. 

 Rain was considerably below the average, in fact it was the beginning of the long 

 summer drought. Locally, snow was never seen, and February did not justify 

 its old name, " Fill the dyke." 



March was decidedly cold, but not boisterous. It opened and closed fine 

 and bright, like the greater part of February; but, from the 9th to the 23rd, 

 frost, snow, and hail took the place of mild sunshine. Snow fell on six days — 

 no place within the British Isles quite escaped snow in March. The highest 

 temperature was 61 degrees ; lowest, 20, and the thermometer fell below 

 freezing point on 14 nights. 



