mr. a. w. Preston’s meteorological notes. 477 
been as low as 27 degrees, or 62 degrees lower than the highest 
“ screen ” reading of less than three weeks previous. The mean 
temperature for the month was above 4.5 degrees above the 
average, and the excess would have been much greater had it 
not been for the sudden drop above alluded to. The great heat 
was accompanied by a very violent drought, which made itself 
felt with great intensity in many parts of the country. Itain 
was measured on four days only to the extent of 0.17 in., and it 
was thus the driest month since April, 1893, when only 0.10 in. 
was registered. In September, 1895, rain fell on three days only, 
but the falls were heavier; the September of 1865 was, however, 
the driest of all, no rain whatever being registered during the 
month at many stations in East Anglia. 
OCTOREH. 
This was tho warmest October since 1876, and only on live 
occasions during the present century has this month given as high 
or a higher mean reading, viz., in 1811, 1831, 1857, 1861, and 
1876. Tho thermometer attained 60 degrees and upwards on 
sixteen days, and no frost was recorded. The severe drought which 
prevailed during September continued, with but slight intermission, 
until October 11th, when rain and thunder occurred, and the 
weather was very stormy and unsettled for a few days with low 
pressure. A thunder-storm occurred late in the evening of the 
29th with heavy rain, but the total rainfall for the month was 
not quite up to the average. The absence of frost kept garden 
llowers in bloom to a later period than usual. 
November. 
The weather was unusually mild to the 21st, with but little 
rain, the mean temperature of the first nineteen days having been 
as high as the same period of the previous May. There was a good 
deal of fog, cloud, and wet mist at times, and heavy rains during 
the last ten days. The mean temperature was 4 degrees above the 
average, and nearly the same as in 1894 and 1895. It is remark- 
aide that the thermometer exceeded 50 degrees on twenty-one days 
during the month, whereas in 1896 it only just touched 50 degrees 
on three days. The rainfall was slightly above the average, the 
excess occurring during the last week of the month. 
