COUNCIL FOR 1897. 
Xlll 
the efforts of the Librarian are severety taxed to find space for 
the additions that pour in. The work of cataloguing, left 
untouched since the departure of the Rev. John Hey, is now 
being resumed. 
Meteorology. —No one feature during the past year calls 
for special comment. 
Temperature was a fraction of a degree lower than in 1896, 
although again above the mean and, as usual, half a degree 
above the mean average of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. February and 
November were unusually warm, May and September the 
coolest for the time of the year. The summer months were 
warm and fine up to mid August, and so favoured all but late 
harvesting. Frosts were very slight, the minimum being above 
20 0 in January and only 25 0 in December. On the other hand 
over 8o u was touched in each summer month. The maximum 
was 88° before a heavy thunderstorm on August 5th, the 
hottest day since August 1876. Then, and in July 1873, 89° 
were recorded; 88° was also recorded in July 1876 and June 
1878; also 87*5° in July 1852. 
Mean Pressure hardly differed from that for our fifty years of 
comparison, 1841—1890. The greatest monthly divergences 
were in March (low), October and November (high). The 
extremes give a range of 2*233 inches, which is more than 
usual, although much less than in 1896. 
Bright Sunshine has now been registered for 17 years for 
your Society by the Stokes Recorder at Bootham School. 
The total, 1,464 hours, has been exceeded only in 1893 (1,595 
hours) and 1895 (1,488 hours). May, July, and August were 
all brilliant months, with totals exceeding 200 hours. 
Altogether this has occurred six times in May, once in June, 
three times in July, and once in August. In everyway May 
proves itself the sunniest month in the York Calendar. 
Rain or Snow (0*005 inches or over) fell on 194 days, or 24 
above the average. Yet the total fall is slightly below the 
average. July and October were dry ; the August fall was 
excessive. Only seven thunderstorms are recorded against 23 
last year. Snow came on 24 days, all but three in the earlier 
months. 
