222 
J. HOPKINSON—METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
The number of rainy days was also unusually small. From 1875 
to 1883 the rainfall and number of rainy days at Watford has been 
as follows:— 
ins. 
days. 
ins. 
days. 
ins. 
days. 
1875* ... 
... 30-44 ., 
.... 171 
1878 ... 
... 34-27 .. 
... 190 
1881 ... 
... 30-15 . 
.... 185 
1876 ... 
... 30-05 ., 
.... 195 
1879 ... 
... 35-98 .. 
... 193 
1882 ... 
... 33-57 . 
.... 199 
1877 ... 
... 32-31 ., 
.... 207 
1880 ... 
... 33-35 .. 
... 162 
1883 ... 
... 28-27 . 
.... 183 
The mean for these nine years will he found to be 32*04 ins. 
falling on 187 days. The fall for 1884 being 22*35 ins. on 152 
days, is therefore about 30 per cent. (30*3) less than the previous 
nine-year mean, and the number of rainy days nearly 20 per cent. 
(18*8) less. 
The weather in 1884 was not only exceptionally dry, hut also 
unusually warm, and the atmosphere was rather dry and bright, 
and not so windy as usual. Owing to there having been no very 
low minimum temperature, the extreme range was not great, but 
the mean daily range was larger than usual. 
Difference in 1884 from means of 1878-82, at Watford. 
Months. 
Pressure. 
Temperature. 
Tension 
of 
Vapour. 
Humi¬ 
dity. 
Rainfall. 
Cloud 
0 - 10 . 
Mean. 
Daily 
Range. 
Total. 
Days. 
in. 
O 
O 
in. 
% 
ins. 
January. 
—-iio 
+ 8-9 
— 1*0 
+ •069 
4-i 
4-i*iB 
4- 3 
—o-i 
February 
— -on 
d-i'9 
4 - 0*2 
4--on 
—1 -66 
— 4 
—i*5 
March . 
—-078 
+ 0-9 
—0*5 
4 -*013 
4-3 
4-o*5o 
— 2 
+o -8 
April. 
— •005 
—i*3 
— 0-2 
— -012 
-3 
-i*43 
— 3 
+ 1-2 
May . 
—•031 
+i*3 
4-3*0 
—-on 
—6 
- 1-69 
— 5 
4-0*4 
June . 
+ •133 
+ 0-3 
4 - 2*0 
— -on 
—1 
—i*55 
— 11 
- 0-9 
July . 
+•034 
+ 2-1 
4 - 2-4 
4 -*042 
— 1 
-o*39 
= 
4-0-4 
August . 
+•097 
+5*0 
4 - 8-0 
4 -*044 
—9 
— 2-51 
— 5 
— 2*6 
September 
+•066 
4-2-4 
4-o*9 
+ -OI2 
—2 
- 1-38 
— 1 
—o -8 
October. 
+ •156 
4 - 0-5 
4-2*3 
— •013 
-5 
-2*35 
— 5 
—o -8 
November 
+•246 
— i*3 
— •003 
4-i 
—o*43 
— 4 
-fo -6 
December 
— -058 
4-3*6 
— 2-0 
-j -’020 
—3 
-J-o- 6 o 
4- 3 
-j-O-2 
Year . 
-h'037 
4“2 "2 
4-i*r 
-f*oi 3 
—2 
—ii*ii 
—34 
—o*3 
Compared with the previous year, in 1884 the mean temperature 
was 1°*4 higher, the relative humidity 1 per cent, less, and the 
rainfall about 6 inches less. Eain (or snow) fell on 31 days less in 
1884 than in 1883, and snow (only) on 7 days less. The sky was 
much less frequently completely overcast and rather more frequently 
clear of cloud. The estimated force of the wind was about the 
same in both years. The mean daily range of temperature was 
rather greater in 1884 than in 1883, and the absolute range was 
considerably greater, owing to the high maximum in August. 
* This is Mr. Harrison’s record at Oaklands, my own record commencing with 
the year 1876. 
