191 1.] Notes on the Weather in December. 



863 



Turnips and swedes, where lifted, are mostly satisfactory in quality, 

 though in certain districts the excessive wet has been deleterious, and 

 in a few localities some roots have rotted. 



Where lambing has already commenced, results are not on the whole 

 very satisfactory. Among the Dorset Horn sheep, while there appear 

 to have been fewer casualties and more twins than usual in East 

 Dorset, in other districts twins seem less numerous, and considerable 

 mortality among the lambs was feared. In all parts of the country 

 ewes have generally suffered from the very wet weather, and their 

 condition cannot be described as satisfactory ; this also applies to other 

 sheep, especially those on arable farms. 



During the first week (November 27th to December 3rd) the weather 

 generally was very dull and unsettled, with frequent rain, though in 



the north of Scotland cold and bright weather 

 Notes on the Weather was experienced with "very abundant" sun- 

 in December. shine. "Very heavy" rainfall was recorded 



over England, except in England S.W., where 

 it was "heavy," and N.W., where it was "moderate." Temperature 

 was below the average, being "moderate" in England E. and Scot- 

 land E., and "deficient" elsewhere. 



The conditions in the second week continued generally dull and 

 rainy. " Unusual " warmth prevailed over Great Britain, except in 

 Scotland W., though the amount of bright sunshine was generally 

 either "scanty" or "very scanty." Rainfall varied a good deal in 

 different parts of the country. 



The weather during the third week was still generally rough and 

 squally, and rain was of daily occurrence in almost all parts, the 

 rainfall being largely in excess of the average. Temperature was very 

 high for the time of year, the excess amounting to 9 0 in England E. ; 

 the districts enjoying "very unusual warmth" were England E., S.E., 

 S.W., and the Midland Counties, and "unusual" warmth was experi- 

 enced elsewhere. Bright sunshine was less than the normal in all 

 districts. 



Much drier weather prevailed during the fourth week than during 

 the earlier part of the month, except in Scotland N. Rainfall was 

 "moderate" except in England N.E., where it was "light," and Scot- 

 land N.j where it was "heavy." Warmth was again either "unusual" 

 or "very unusual" over the country, temperature continuing from 

 4 0 to 6° in excess of the average in most districts. Bright sunshine 

 was more than the normal generally, equal to it in England S.E. 

 and S.W., and rather less in the English Channel. 



The general condition during the fifth week (December 25th to 

 December 31st) was unsettled, but many bright periods were experienced 

 in most parts of the country. Temperature, though above the average 

 in most districts^ was everywhere classed as "moderate." Rainfall was 

 either "moderate" or "light," and was less than the average in all 

 districts except Scotland N. ; several districts experienced showers of 

 snow and sleet. Sunshine just equalled the average in England E., 

 but exceeded the normal elsewhere, being "very abundant" in Scotland 

 E., and "abundant" over England with the exception of • England E. 

 and S.W. 



