372 
MR. A. W. PRESTON S METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
XVI. 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES, 1901. 
(From observations taken at Bradestone House, Brundall, Norfolk.) 
By Arthur W. Preston, F. R. Met. Soc. 
Read 25 th February, 1902. 
January. 
This was an exceedingly dry month, the total rainfall being but 
three quarters of an inch, of which 0.28 in. was melted snow. 
There were some cold days in the second week, the maxima 
being exceptionally low. There were no very severe frosts, although 
on the night of the 9th the exposed thermometer fell to 9 degrees, 
which was 13 degrees lower than the minimum recorded by the 
screened instrument. The third week was mild, but the month 
closed with some winterly weather and snowstorms. The most 
remarkable phenomenon of the month was a severe thunderstorm 
on the afternoon of the 28th, accompanied by great darkness. 
At 3.40 p.m. the blackness of night seemed to sweep down with 
extraordinary suddenness. For twenty minutes a thunderstorm of 
unusual violence prevailed, the lightning being exceedingly 
brilliant, and affording a weird contrast to the existing gloom. The 
proximity of the storm was exemplified by the startling suddenness 
with which the reports followed each flash. Snow and hail accom- 
panied the storm, which passed away to the south-eastward soon 
after 4 p.m. Electrical storms of this character, though rare, are 
by no means unknown in winter. As recently as the 23rd January, 
1895, a very similar storm burst over London. On the 6th January, 
1872, a severe thunderstorm occurred in Suffolk, and many other 
counties, when there was much damage by lightning. Similar storms 
are stated to have visited Eastern England on the 16th January, 
1871, 13th December, 1866, 17th December, 1852, and 3rd January 
1841. 
