mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
101 
destructive gales on the 7th and 27th, the former from the south- 
west, and the latter from the north-west. The mean temperature 
of the month was 40 degrees against 45.2 degrees in 1885, 
53 degrees in 188G, 45.0 degrees in 1887, and 4G degrees in 1888, 
November. 
The first half of this month was unusually fine and dry for the 
season, with many bright sunny days. An anti-cyclone, extending 
over tho whole of Great Britain from the Gth to the 23rd, was 
accompanied by extremely high barometric readings, those on the 
18th and 19th being as high as 30.75 in. The latter part of this 
period was attended with clouds of unusual density, the sun being 
completely obscured from the 13th to the 25th. On tho last- 
named day tho barometer fell nearly an inch, and meteorological 
conditions underwent a complete change, the calm, quiet, mild 
atmosphere giving place to weather of a decidedly winterly type, 
accompanied by gales from the north-west, and heavy storms of 
snow and sleet. Tho first snow of the season fell on the 2Gth. 
There was not much rain, and it may be said to have been the first 
dry month since the previous June. The mean temperature of the 
month was about 1 degree above the average, and was 43.9 degrees 
against 41.4 degrees in 1885, 44.1 degrees in 188G, 40.7 degrees in 
1887, and 45.7 degrees in 1888. 
December. 
This was a changeable month with many mild days alternating 
with frosty nights, and occasional touches of winter. The rainfall 
was very light, and snow fell on three days only. There was a 
great prevalence of cloud, and the air was unusually saturated 
with humidity. The last week of the month was more decidedly 
winterly, with a mean temperature of G degrees below the average, 
and the year ended, as it had entered, amid frost and snow. The 
mean temperature of December was about a degree under the 
average, and was 37.3 degrees against 37.2 degrees in 1885, 34.9 
degrees in 188G, 3G degrees in 1887, and 40.3 degrees in 1888. 
