1 
388 MR. A. w. Preston’s meteorological notes. 
depression passing over tire county on the 15th and 16th. The 
reading on the evening of the 15th was 28.83 in., the mercury 
continued below 29 in. for nearly forty-eight hours. The centre of 
this dejDression passed over the south of England, where a terrific 
gale prevailed, but the storm was happily not so severely felt 
in Norfolk. 
November. 
This was a mild, and on the whole a pleasant month. The 
weather was somewhat rainy in the second week, but the latter 
half of the month was very dry and fine. There were many 
bright days which helped to prolong the beautiful autumn for 
which 1886 will ever remain noted. Winds were chiefly from the 
south-west and west, but there were no severe gales. Very high I 
barometric readings were recorded during the last fortnight, the 
mercury rising to 30.70 on the 24th. At this period the weather 
was very fine and bright, although London was visited by fogs 
of an unusual density. 
December. ^ 
This was a remarkable month. The fine mild weather which 
had prevailed with but little intermission since the middle of ^ 
August, gave .place, on the 1st, to a sudden outburst of severe ? 
cold. On the 2nd a heavy snowstorm occurred, and on the night ! 
of the 3rd and 4th the thermometer fell to 17.2 degrees, the 
lowest for six years past. In some parts of the city reading.s 
as low as 13 degrees were registered. Frost and snow prevailed to 
the 6th, when very stormy weather set in accompanied by the 
greatest barometric depression that has occurred for many years. 
On the 8th, at 9 a.ni., the barometer stood at 28.63 in., at noon 
28.50 in., at 3 p.m. 28.39 in., at 9 p.m. 28.11 in., and at 
11.30 p.m. 28.08 in. It seems that the centre of the depression 
passed over the north of England, the lowest reading recorded 
being 27.41 in. In London the minimum was 28.30 in., and it is 
stated to have been the lowest registered there since January 13th, 
1843. The depression was accompanied by a heavy and destructive 
gale, and it was some time before the barometer regained its 
normal height and the weather became settled. The mean reading 
