VI 



INTRODUCTION. 



cold dry weather and Easterly winds. On the 11th a depression was 

 formed in the N.E. of Scotland, which moved South-Eastwards on 

 the 12th. It then stood with its centre about York, causing snow in 

 N.E. of England. On the 13th it had passed to the coast of Holland 

 while an anticyclone formed in the W. North winds consequently 

 blew over the whole of the British Isles. Min. temps, for the winter 

 now began to occur in N. Scotland; e.g., Sumburgh Head and 

 Scourie, 19°. On this day the isotherm of 20° ran nearly parallel 

 with and close to the coast lines of the British Isles, avoiding the 

 N.E. of Scotland alone. There were nine distinct areas with min. 

 temps, of. 10°, two being in Ireland. On the 14th, those in England 

 became merged into three large areas, one extending from N. Scot- 

 land to Manchester ; a second from near York to Cambridge ; and a 

 third, of triangular form, from Liverpool to Milford Haven and 

 Oxford ; other small circles occurred N. of Plymouth, as well as 

 two in Ireland, around Belfast and Waterford, respectively. Min. 

 temps, for the winter, as recorded from Scotland only ; e.g., Cullo- 

 den, 4°; Nairn, 5°; Stronvar, 4°. From the 15 to 17th these 

 districts became welded together, and now included, on 15th, six 

 smaller areas bounded by isotherms of 0°. Hence several places from 

 Edinburgh to the Midland counties had their min. temps, for the 

 winter ; e.g., on 16th, at N.W. of England, especially Scaleby, -7° ; 

 Alston, -9° ; St. Michaels-on-Wyre, -7° 5 ; Chester, 0°-8 ; Corwen, 

 -8° ; while on 17th temp, sank to extreme depths, e.g. at Kelso, 

 -16° ; Stobo, -15° ; and Melrose, -10°. Min. temps, for the winter 

 also occurred near London ; e.g., Regent's Park, 9°-8 ; Kew, 4°-7. 

 These temps, were accompanied by somewhat complicated barome- 

 trical conditions. An anticyclone stretching from N.W. to S.E. 

 (with a pressure of upwards of 29-8 ins.) lay over England on the 

 14th; but a depression stood over S. Norway (29*4 ins.) causing 

 heavy snow in N. Scotland. Anticyclonic areas prevailed over 

 N.W. France and England as far North as Yorkshire ; and also over 

 Ireland (both with pressure of 29-8 ins.). The former caused the 

 min. temp, for the winter about London. The pressure on the West 

 gave way, on the 17th, indicating the approach of a deep depression, 

 which brought on the fearful storm on the 18th. This day will 

 ever be remembered for the terrific snow storm and strong Easterly 

 gales over the greater part of England, the N. alone being free 

 from it ; as the centre of the cyclone stood over the North of the 



