MR. A. W. PRESTONS METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
397 
October. 
This was the finest October for many years, for although some- 
times it has been drier, and sometimes warmer, rarely lias such 
a delightful prolongation of summer sunshine and warm dry days 
been recorded. It was the driest October since 1879, but 188G 
and 1893 gave a higher mean temperature and some warmer days. 
The last six days, although very fine, gave 0.01 in. of moisture each 
morning deposited by wet fogs. T he total rainfall of the month 
was 0.94 in. against an average of 3.05 in., and, looking back over 
old records in the South-east of England to the commencement of 
the present century, it appears that October has been drier on only 
six occasions, namely, in 1803, 1830, 1834, 18G1, 1866, and 1879. 
Except for a slight frost in exposed situations on the morning of 
the 7th, there was nothing to cut off the more tender flowers, 
which continued in full bloom to the end of the month. 
November. 
To the 27th this was an unusually dry and pleasant month for 
so late in the season. Although there was a considerable prevalence 
of cloud and dense fogs at times the barometer remained, as in 
October, at a very high level with little variation, and the rainfall 
was trilling. Temperature was high, and on many days very high, 
the maximum reading for the 14th being 60.2 degrees, and the 
weather on that day was of the most summer-like description. 
A great and sudden change occurred on the 27th. The barometer, 
which at 9 a.m. on the 26th stood at the great height of 30.50 in., 
had fallen to 30.01 in. at the same hour on the 27th, and fell 
rapidly during the last-named day, accompanied by an almost 
continuous downpour of rain, constituting the first wholly rainy 
day since the middle of September. A rise of the barometer in 
the evening hardly prepared the way for the great atmospheric 
disturbance of the two following days. By 9 a.m. on the 28th the 
barometer had fallen to 29.61 in., and after falling with great 
rapidity all day, by 9 p.m. stood at 29.02 in. This fall was 
accompanied by rain, hail, and a violent gale from the S.W. veering 
to N.W., increasing in intensity during the ensuing night. The 
greatest violence appeared to be between 7 and 9 a.m. on the 29th, 
during which time some of the gusts were terrific, inflicting much 
damage in all directions, and it was not until late in the afternoon 
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