1915.] BAILIWICK RAINFALL. 225 



which apparently we can hardly get too much, was deplorably 

 deficient in amount. 



THE WEATHER OP 1915 : GENERAL REMARKS. 



The year opened with a very low barometer and a fierce 

 gale of wind from the south. It was an extremely rough 

 New Year's day followed at night by heavy hail showers. In 

 rainfall the year began well, following valiantly in the steps 

 of a very wet December, and though January did not rival 

 its predecessor, it started the twelvemonth on its course with a 

 surplus of precipitation it never lost. In this direction January 

 was ably seconded by February. Together the two months 

 gave a total of 9*89 in. at Les Blanches against a normal of 

 5*48 in. At Sark the total was 7*12 in. and at Alclerney 

 8*07 in. 



In writing of the big rainfall of January and February 

 1915, December 1914 should be included in the remarks, for 

 the three months embrace an exceedingly well-marked spell of 

 excessively wet weather. At Guernsey (Les Blanches) a 

 total of no less than 18*18 in. was measured in the three months 

 against a normal of 9*67 in. At Sark the amount was 

 14*37 in. and at Alderney 16*76 in. Gales, hail, thunder and 

 lightning were accompaniments of the long succession of 

 depressions responsible for all this rainfall. From Alderney 

 Mr. Picot reported " terrific hail squalls " for January 7th ; 

 " thunderstorm early morn " of the 8th ; " thunderstorm 

 during night" (of 30th to 31st); and for February 13th; 

 " fierce hurricane afternoon and night." At Les Blanches 

 January 18th was the first day without rainfall since December 

 3rd — forty-five, consecutive rain days. In all the islands, 

 however, one week of dry weather was experienced in the 

 midst of the three months' deluge. From January 23rd to 

 29th no precipitation was measured at any of the three 

 stations, while towards the end of February improving 

 conditions began developing. 



Four of the depressions gave us a very low barometer. 

 On December 13th the mercury dropped to 28*7 in., but as 

 regards wind, the (to use an Americanism) "low" gave 

 nothing worse than a strong south breeze. On the evening of 

 New Year's day the barometer was down to 28*8 in. with fresh 

 west breeze following a strong south gale in the morning. 

 Two days later the barometer was reading 28*8 in. again, this 

 time with nothing more severe in the way of wind than a 

 gentle west to north-west breeze. The fourth low reading 

 occurred on Saturday, Feb. 13th, and once more 28*8 in. was 



