124 
J. HOPKINSON—METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
August.— A cold month, with an atmosphere of average humidity, 
a rather cloudy sky, and a heavy rainfall (as in July about 50 per 
cent, above the average). The low temperature was chiefly due 
to the coldness of the days, the mean daily range being smaller 
than usual. The maximum temperature exceeded 70° on the 8th 
and 13th only (8th, Berkhamsted 75°'5, St. Albans 75°* 1 ; 13th, 
Berkhamsted 72°, St. Albans 71°T). The duration of sunshine was 
a little less than usual. The wind was mostly from the W.S.W. 
September.— A very similar month to May, the mean temperature, 
humidity, and cloud being about the average, and the rainfall 
only slightly exceeding it. The mean daily range of temperature 
was a little below the average. The maximum temperature 
exceeded 70° on the 1st and 2nd only, which were hotter than any 
days in August (1st, Berkhamsted max. 79°, St. Albans 79° 6; 
2 nd, Berkhamsted max. 81°0, St. Albans 80'5). The duration of 
sunshine was about the same as usual. The wind was mostly 
from the W.S.W. There was a gale on the night of Thursday the 
10 th which did much damage to trees, chiefly in the neighbourhood 
of St. Albans and Watford, falling trees on the road between these 
places rendering it dangerous for a time, and impeding traffic. 
There was a severe thunderstorm on the 12th, by which some 
damage was done near Hertford. 
October. —Yery warm, with an atmosphere of average humidity, 
a cloudy sky, and an excessive rainfall (more than double the 
average) on an exceptionally large number of days. The rain was, 
in fact, almost continuous, only three days being without, and the 
total fall exceeding that in any other month of this excessively 
wet year. The high temperature was chiefly due to warm nights, 
the mean daily range being small. The sun shone for about fifty 
minutes a day less than usual. The wind was mostly from the 
S.S.W. Bloods occasioned by the heavy rainfall almost equalled 
those of June. 
November. —A month of about average temperature and humidity, 
with a cloudy sky, and rather less than the average rainfall on 
a considerable number of days. The mean daily range of tempera¬ 
ture was exactly the average. The temperature was below 32° on 
four days at Berkhamsted and three at St. Albans. The duration 
of sunshine was about the average. Westerly winds prevailed. 
December. —Of about average temperature, with a rather humid 
atmosphere, a very cloudy sky, and about the average rainfall on 
the usual number of days. The first seven and the last three days 
were cold, with minima below 32° on each day at both Berkham¬ 
sted and St. Albans; the only other day in the month with the 
minimum below 32° was the 27th (at both places). The 5th was 
the coldest day in the year, the maximum temperature at Berk¬ 
hamsted being a little below 32°, and at St. Albans a little above 
it. The sun shone for about forty minutes a day less than usual. 
Easterly winds prevailed. 
