758 MR. A. W. PRESTON’S METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
March. 
Although rather colder than the previous March, the mean 
temperature of the month exceeded the average by as much 
as 3’5°. There was, however, much cloud, and while the 
night temperatures were generally high, on no day did the 
shade temperature exceed 55 ' 8 °. There were many windy 
days, the general direction of the wind being mainly south- 
westerly. Rainfall was rather excessive, but snow fell on one 
day only. A thunderstorm of considerable severity, with 
exceedingly brilliant lightning, but unaccompanied by much 
rain, occurred on the evening of the 22nd. The abnormal 
forwardness of vegetation noticed in the previous months was 
less marked at the close of March, owing, no doubt, to the 
absence of continuous sunshine. At this time some of the 
vernal indications were a few days later than in the previous 
year, but it was, nevertheless, a very early season. 
April. 
As is frequently the case after an exceptionally mild winter 
season, the month of April was, during the first three weeks, 
colder than usual. Little snow had been seen during the 
winter, but on the 11th there was a severe snowstorm, covering 
a wide stretch of country, and it was said to have been the 
heaviest April snowstorm since 1908. Much showery, change- 
able weather followed, but after the 21st there were many fine, 
warm days, bringing the month’s mean temperature up to the 
average. The rainfall was '66 ins. above the average, and 
sunshine nearly 23 hours deficient. A sharp thunderstorm 
occurred at midnight on the 29th. At the close of the month, 
and throughout the rest of the spring, vegetation, though early, 
was less forward than in 1912, notwithstanding its earlier start. 
May. 
Showery weather occurred until the 9th, after which a rainless 
period of 19 consecutive days ensued. Temperature was 
normal till the last week, when there was an extraordinary 
