TAKEN AT THROCKIHG, HERTS, IE" 1886. 
213 
March. — A. cold month, especially for the first fortnight, when 
mean temperature was only 30°’3, or about 11° below the average. 
The rainfall was the largest yet recorded for the month. The snow 
which fell at the commencement of the month lay until 19th. On 
15th the ice on ponds was quite thick, the daily papers recording 
5 inches of ice on the Serpentine. 
April.—A bright month, little rain falling after 18th. On 
10 th and 11th snow fell in large flakes for a short time; on 18 th 
thick fog. 
May.— An exceedingly wet month, probably the wettest May 
since 1878. The first week, however, was perfectly dry. In the 
last three weeks upwards of four times the usual monthly fall was 
gauged. On 17th a strong wind did much damage to fruit-trees in 
blossom. On 19th thunder, and on 23rd a thunder-storm. 
Juhe.— The driest June yet observed. Sharp frost on June 4th. 
After 23rd the weather became very bright, and much warmer. 
July.— The bright weather of the latter part of June lasted until 
11th, after which rain was somewhat frequent. 
August.—A fine month, no rain falling from 3rd to 8th, or after 
19th. Towards the end of the month the weather became hot. 
September.— A very fine month. Tor the first time in my 
observations the temperature has exceeded 80° in September, reach¬ 
ing 82°-9 on 1st. The rainfall was less than in any previous 
year. I am sorry to have to record the discovery of an omission 
of 0 Os 39 of rain on Sept. 10th, which makes the monthly fall given 
in my Herts tables, and the yearly fall in ‘ British Rainfall,’ too 
little by that amount. 
October.— The fall of rain was considerable, but not above the 
average, the October fall as a rule being the heaviest in the year. 
It was the warmest October (except that of 1883) yet observed, 
the temperature for the first time exceeding 70°, being 76°*9 on 4th. 
November.— A very average month as regards rainfall. With 
the exception of 1881, the warmest on record. 
December.— A bright month, though rain was by no means 
Unfrequent. The snowstorm of 26th was a very sudden, and 
a very heavy one, and probably owing to the peculiar wetness of 
the snow, which made it very sticky, it did considerable damage to 
telegraph posts, etc. 
