14 
REPOllT OF THE 
Mean pressure was high, especially in February, but fell 
considerably in the later months, except September. The 
recurrence of very low pressure at intervals of about 29 days 
in the last 3 months may be more than accidental. The series 
was continued in January, 1892. The fall from the high 
reading, 30’725 inches, on October 31st, to 28*32 on November 
11 til gives one of the greatest changes experienced in so short 
a time at York. 
It is indeed the absolute range for the year, 2*425 inches, and 
0*36 in excess of last year. 
This approaches the record for 1886, when, with a minimum 
of 27*777 the maximum was 2*92 inches higher, also a 
fortnight previously. The storms associated with the low 
pressures in October and November were very severe. On the 
former occasions, in the course of a few minutes soon after 5 
p.m., many trees were blown down or lost large limbs. 
Bright sunshine, 1184 hours, was less even than last year, so 
is again below the average. April and August were greatly 
behind. Only September was specially sunny. It had more 
hours than August, and March than April. 
Rain or Snow* fell on 198 days, 10 more than last year; 
yet the total, 23*67, was less even than last year and 1*33 inches 
below the 50 years’ average. This was due to the phenomenal 
dryness of the first half of the year, which contributed only 
6‘78 inches, the Autumn half giving 16*98 inches; more than 
10 inches difference. August and October gave the greatest 
falls. The ground is now more thoroughly soaked than it has 
been since the early eighties. The Rainfall for February, 0*08, 
is the least ever measured in any month, at any rate since 
1831. Of this moreover only 0*01 actually fell in Februaiy, 
the rest coming about 6 a.m. on March 1st. 
Floods on the Ouse have naturally been more prevalent. 
The melting of the January snows gave over 8 feet on Januar}^ 
25th. In August it actually reached 8 feet 6 inches, 8 feet 
2 inches in October, 9 feet 2 inches in November and 12 feet 
6 inches on December 11th, again rising to 12 feet on the 
14th. The floods of recent years have, of course, been greatly 
* Snow fell, January 7 days, February I day, March 11 days, April 1 day, 
May 3 days, December 1 day; total, 24 days. 
