m it. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
89 
most severe and protracted winters. During the iirst three days 
the weather was very cold, with frequent snow showers ; hut on 
the fourth a biting blast from the east prevailed all day, with 
a temperature almost stationary at 25 degrees, the maximum for 
the day being the lowest recorded since these observations were 
commenced in 1882. The wind blew from the east at gale force 
during the entire day, and at Yarmouth force 9 (or a strong gale 
53 to 60 miles an hour) was reported. On the morning of the 
6th the exposed thermometer on the snow fell to 1 degree, or 
31 degrees below the freezing-point. On the 7th the temperature 
did not rise above 26.2 degrees all day, and the rime frost was 
remarkably beautiful, the trees in the country being covered with 
spiculm of rime half an inch in length, making the boughs appear 
as if in full foliage, crystallized by frost. On the 10th the frost 
disappeared as suddenly as it had come, and the remainder of the 
month was as remarkable for its mildness as the first week was 
for its severity. Cyclonic disturbances from the Atlantic skirted 
our western coasts with great frequency, and the atmosphere was 
much disturbed with strong winds and gales from the S.W., the 
barometer oscillated much, and the air was constantly mild and 
damp, with line bright days intervening. 
February. 
The first fortnight was very mild and boisterous, with hardly 
any frost. Severe gales were experienced on many days, that on 
the 11th being exceptionally violent. The thermometer was above 
50 degrees daily (with one exception) from the 1st to the 11th 
inclusive, the mean temperature of which period was 45.1 degrees, 
or higher than that of any April in the years 1887 to 1892 
inclusive. The third week was fine and bright with frosty nights, 
but mild and stormy weather again set in at the close of the 
month. The mean temperature of the month was 2.3 degrees 
above the average, constituting the warmest February since 1884. 
March. 
The weather of March may be divided into two distinct types, 
the distribution of atmospheric pressure of the first half of the 
month being cyclonic, with a predominence of south-westerly winds, 
