NOTES ON THE RAINFALL. 



331 



thunderstorms of moderate intensity passed over Guernsey 

 and Sark, Alderney escaped the shower altogether. As a 

 consequence of these irregularities the totals of rainfall for the 

 three days, 5th-7th, were as follows : 



Sark, 1*03 in. ; Alderney, 0*19 in. ; Guernsey, 0*75 in. 



Seldom, however, we should imagine, has a greater 

 contrast in the daily rainfall of the Channel Islands occurred 

 than that which was experienced on Friday, October 13th, for 

 while the day Avas absolutely dry at Guernsey, Sark and 

 Alderney, no less than 2*42 ins. (very nearly inches) of 

 rain fell at St. Aubin's, Jersey ! This extremely heavy 

 downpour was connected with a violent thunderstorm which 

 involved Jersey only, although at Guernsey distant thunder 

 was heard towards the S.E. between 6 and 8 a.m. and the 

 whole day almost was foggy and sunless. 



On the following day there was another peculiarity in the 

 rainfall, for while showers fell at Guernsey giving a total 

 of 0*16 in. of rain, both Sark and Alderney reported a dry day, 

 and well-marked differences were again noted on the 22nd, 

 23rd and 25th. 



In its Alderney news the Evening Press of November 3rd 

 contained the following : " On Tuesday night [October 31st] 

 promenaders saw a most perfect lunar rainbow overspanning 

 Fort Albert." That same night at 10 o'clock a very fine and 

 perfect lunar rainbow was also seen here (Guernsey). Lunar 

 rainbows are of rare occurrence, all the conditions favourable 

 to their formation seeming difficult of accomplishment. 



Both at Guernsey (Les Blanches) and Sark the year's 

 heaviest rainfall occurred on October 27th, and by a curious 

 coincidence the amount was exactly the same at each station, 

 viz. : 1*40 in. At Alderney, November 11th, with 1*21 in. of 

 rain was the wettest day in that island. In the three islands 

 December proved the wettest month of the twelve. Rain fell 

 almost daily and the totals were excessively large even for a 

 winter month. The figures for Sark and Alderney are given 

 in the Table. At Guernsey (Les Blanches), where no less 

 than 8*07 in. was measured and 29 out of the 31 days had rain, 

 it was the second wettest month of the 18 years, 1894-1911. 



In concluding these Notes I have again much pleasure in 

 acknowledging my indebtedness to Capt. Henry, of the Vallee 

 du Creux, Sark, and Mr. W. J. Picot, of Le Huret, Alderney, 

 who so very kindly continue to take charge of the rainfall 

 stations established in their islands at the beginning of 1906. 

 Rainfall observations are not difficult to take and they are 



