94 MR. A. W. PRESTON S METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
country, and which was accompanied by readings of the 
barometer of remarkable uniformity over the entire kingdom, 
caused dense fogs of a character not known in this part of 
England for many years. These fogs caused much interruption 
to traffic and business in the week before Christmas. Much 
dampness and gloom prevailed during the Christmas holidays, 
and a sudden fall of the mercury on the morning of the 30th 
brought a violent gale, doing much damage in all directions. 
It had the effect, however, of dispersing the fogs, and gave 
place to more seasonable meteorological conditions at the 
close of the month. 
The Seasons. 
The following tables show the mean temperature and 
rainfall of the four seasons, together with those of the five 
previous years, compared with the usual averages. Winter 
comprises the three months December to February inclusive, 
Spring, March to May ; Summer, June to August ; and 
Autumn, September to November. 
TEMPERATURE. 
Seasons. 
1899. 
1900. 
1501. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
20-year 
average 
1883-02. 
Departure 
oi 1904 
from 
average. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
degrees. 
Winter 
42.6 
37-4 
39 -o 
37-9 
41.8 
38.3 
38.0 
+ 0.3 
Spring 
46.2 
45-3 
46.3 
46.3 
47-3 
47-8 
46-3 
+ i -5 
Summer 
61.9 
61.6 
61.4 
58.7 
58.7 
60.8 
60.3 
+ 0.5 
Autumn 
51.2 
51.6 
50.7 
50.1 
SI. 2 
49.8 
50.2 
-0.4 
Year . 
49. S 
49.6 
48.8 
48.4 
49-5 
49-3 
48.7 
+ 0.6 
RAINFALL. 
Seasons. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. I903. 
I 
| 
1904. 
38-year 
average 
1865-02. 
Departure 
of 1904 
from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
in. 
5.82 
6.84 
3-52 
8.31 
in. 
7.42 
4.26 
8.77 
5-32 
in. 
5-88 
5.1° 
3.61 
5 - 1 1 
in. | in. 
6.09 1 3.64 
6.77 1 5-83 
7 82 * 10.54 
4.14 9.77 
in. 
5-96 
4-59 
4.70 
4.9S 
in. 
5- 96 
5-27 
6.94 
8.01 
in. 
0.00 
-0.68 
- 2.24 
- 3-°3 
Year 
23-94 
26.99 
21.06 
22.30 29.44 
21.50 
26.18 
-4-68 
