736 MR. A. W. PRESTON’S METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
December. 
December entered with a week of very dark and dismal 
weather. During this period the sun was totally invisible, 
and heavy clouds hung like a pall over the landscape. The 
weather continued mild over Christmas, but on the 27th 
a short but sharp snap of cold occurred, which lasted four 
days, disappearing on the 31st as suddenly as it had come. 
The ground was thickly covered with snow, but much less fell 
here than in other parts of England, where the snowfall was 
heavier and the frost very severe. 
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. 
1903 . 
1904 . 
1905. 
1006. 
1907. 
>908. 
Average 
Departure 
of 1908 
from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
degrees. 
41.8 
47-3 
5S.7 
51.2 
degrees. 
38-3 
47.8 
60.8 
49.8 
degrees. 
39-2 
47-5 
62. 1 
47-5 
degrees. 
39-3 
46.7 
61. 1 
52.9 
degrees. 
36.2 
47.6 
57.S 
50.7 
degrees. 
38.8 
46.3 
59.8 
51.6 
degrees. 
38.0 
46.3 
60.3 
50.2 
degrees. 
+0.8 
0.0 
-o -5 
+ 1.4 
Year 
49-5 
49-3 
49.0 
49-7 
48.4 
49.0 
48 . 7 
+ 0.3 
RAINFALL. 
Seasons. 
1903. 
1904. 
I 905 . 
1906. 
1907. 
1 90S. 
Average 
Departure 
of 1908 
from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
in. 
3-64 
5-83 
10.54 
9-77 
in. 
5-96 
4-59 
4.70 
4.98 
in. 
4.91 
5-29 
6.05 
8. 1 1 
in. 
7 - 73 
5-32 
4.96 
8 - 75 
in. 
6.09 
7-77 
5-74 
6.57 
in. 
6.21 
6.97 
7-30 
5-94 
in. 
5-37 
5 - *3 
6.87 
8.3S 
in. 
+0.S4 
+ 1.84 
+0.43 
- 2.44 
Year 
29.44 
21.50 
22.96 
28.54 
26.25. 
25.16 
25 - 7.5 
-0.59 
