72 
J. HOPKINSOX—METEOEOLOGICAL OBSEEVATIONS 
Hickmans worth., Watford, St. Albans, Hatfield, Hertford, Ware, 
and Buntingford, a little rain or hail being recorded at St. Albans 
and Buntingford only in the region of the dust-storm. The dust 
was carried up and round as in a whirlwind, fields were cleared 
of hay, which was deposited in adjoining fields, haystacks were 
blown down, fruit-trees laden with fruit were lifted out of the 
ground, and in some places, as at Ware and Buntingford, larger 
trees were uprooted. At Bickmansworth windows were blown in 
and other damage was done to buildings. At Watford it was 
noticed that the higher clouds were travelling in a north-easterly 
direction and the lower ones very rapidly southwards. This was 
at half-past 1, and at about the same time heavy rain began to 
fall in the neighbourhood of Baldock, Hitchin, Kensworth, and 
Berkhamsted, as recorded in my Beport on the Bainfall (see p. 41). 
The roads in the low-lying parts of Hitchin were flooded in some 
places to the depth of nearly 2 feet. On the 27th there were 
three distinct thunderstorms between 2 and 10 p.m. The last was 
the most severe, and was at its height at 8 at Berkhamsted and just 
before 10 at Watford. In the neighbourhood of Hertford several 
trees were struck by the lightning, and at Watford three houses; 
and in the neighbourhood of Bickmansworth several stacks were 
set on fire and standing crops were beaten to the ground. 
August. —A month of average temperature, humidity, and cloud, 
with a heavy rainfall on about the usual number of days. The 
nights were rather warmer and the days rather cooler than usual. 
The temperature varied greatly, the first and the last 10 days being 
rather cool, and the middle of the month (11th to 21st) very warm. 
At Berkhamsted, St. Albans, and Hertford during the two cool 
periods there were no maximum readings above 70° except on the 
31 st, and at Hertford only on the 2nd; and during the warm period 
there was not one below 70° except on the 21st at St. Albans, and 
then only just below it, while 80° was exceeded at one or more 
of these places on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 18th. There were 
thunderstorms, or thunder was at least heard, nearly every day 
from the 18th to the 25th. The cool periods were also for the 
most part wet and sunless, while no rain fell from the 11th to 
the 20th, and at Berkhamsted the sun “ shone brightly on an 
average for nearly 11 hours a day.” There was a gale on the 
3rd which did much damage to trees. Several, including some 
very fine ones, were blown down at Hemel Hempstead, Boxmoor, 
and Apsley End; at Hertford six trees were blown down in one 
meadow alone adjoining the river Beane, and at Hoddesdon several 
fine elms by the side of the New Biver succumbed to the force of 
the gale, and also other trees in the neighbourhood, near Stanstead 
Pond and at the Bye House. The fruit-crop suffered greatly, large 
quantities of apples and plums still green being blown off the trees. 
On the 6th (Bank Holiday) the gale was renewed, the neighbour¬ 
hood of Hitchin, where several trees were uprooted, suffering the 
most. A lunar rainbow was seen on the night of Sunday the 5tli. 
It was only reported from the east of the county. 
