mr. a. w. prbston’s meteorological notes. 
687 
XII. 
METEOROLOGICAL NOTES, 1903. 
(From observations taken at Bradestone House, Brundall, Norfolk.) 
By Arthur W. Preston, F. R. Met. Soc. 
Read 23rd February, 190 Jf. 
January. 
The year entered with a continuance of the mild weather which 
had characterised the latter part of the previous Dccemlier. On 
the 3rd there were heavy hailstorms accompanied by thunder, and 
on the 5th and 6th maxima of 53.4 and 52.5 were attained by the 
thermometer. On the 12th a drop occurred in the temperature, 
and a week’s somewhat winterly weather ensued, with a little 
snow, but the frost was at no time severe, and on the 20th 
milder weather again set in, and continued till the end of the 
month, the thermometer reaching 54.8 on the 26th. On the 
mean the temperature for the month was 3.3 above the average, 
and much the same as that of the previous January. The rainfall 
was .21 ins. deficient, and the prevailing direction of the wind was 
from westerly quarters. It blew strongly on many days. Owing 
to the continued mildness, some of the earlier spring flowers, such 
as violets, primroses, aconites, and snowdrops came into bloom 
early in the month. 
February. 
Great mildness prevailed throughout the month, maxima of 
57 degrees being recorded on the 8th, 20th, and 21st, and on the 
9th the thermometer touched 58.6. There were but few frosts, 
and on the mean the temperature of the month was 6.1 degrees 
above the average. It was a very dry month, only .34 ins. of rain 
being recorded, and the first three weeks were practically rainless. 
There was no snow whatever, and by the close of the month 
vegetation was forwarder than in any year since 1882. Early 
wall fruit, such as apricots, began to blossom before the close 
of the month, and the whitethorn commenced to leaf at an unusually 
