METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT WISLEY IN 1908. 41 



REPORT ON THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 MADE AT THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN AT WISLEY IN 1908. 



By Mr. R. H. Curtis, F.R. Met. Soc. 



The meteorological record at the Society's Garden at Wisley has been 

 maintained without break throughout the year, and that the observers, 

 Messrs. Frazer and Wallis, have taken a keen interest in their work is shown 

 by the careful way in which the record has been kept. The instruments 

 were examined and compared with standard instruments in July, and 

 the station was then found to be in excellent order. 



The weather of 1908 was in no respect very exceptional. The 

 temperature was on the whole about the average, there were some warm 

 spells in June and July when several times 80° was exceeded, and again 

 at the close of September and beginning of October when the minimum 

 remained above 60°. Bright sunshine was more abundant than usual 

 over the southern half of England, and rather less than the average 

 elsewhere. Rainfall was about the average in Scotland and Ireland, 

 about 5 per cent, less than average in Wales, 10 per cent, less in North 

 England, and 14 per cent, less over the southern half of England. Gales 

 were not numerous, thunderstorms also were less frequent than usual, 

 but there were some severe snowstorms, the melting of the snow causing 

 floods in some districts. 



The observations for each month are as follows : 



January. — The weather of the first half of the month was in some- 

 what marked contrast to that of the latter half, the former being on the 

 whole fair and cold, whilst during the last two weeks it was generally 

 dull, and for the season rather mild, but with an unusual amount of fog. 

 The average temperature for the month was in most places somewhat below 

 the normal, and during the first week some low minima were recorded, the 

 screened thermometer at the Garden falling to 15 0, 7, which was the lowest 

 point reached until the last day but one of the year. Over the greater 

 part of England the fall of rain was considerably below the average, and 

 in some districts it did not amount to an inch for the entire month. At 

 Wisley the total was just over an inch and an half, but of this amount 

 an inch and a quarter fell on one day (7th), the remainder being distri- 

 buted over nine other days. In some parts of the kingdom, however, 

 there were very heavy falls, and upwards of an inch fell in twenty-four 

 hours at several places. The winds experienced were pretty evenly dis- 

 tributed round the compass except for the quadrant from east to south, 

 from which they seldom blew. Bright sunshine was generally well above 

 the average, and at some stations in the south of England it amounted 

 to 40 per cent, of the possible amount ; at the gardens daily amounts of 

 six hours and upwards were registered on five occasions. 



