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METEOROLOGICAL NOTES, 1903.

January.—The month was very warm; somewhat wet. The third week was very cold, but the
other weeks were mild. The rainfall is about one-third of an inch above the average at Greenwich.
The mean temperature of the month is about three degrees above the average, and was at Wallington
40.8 degrees. There were recorded at Wallington 54.3 hours of sunlight, which is 12.1 hours, or 5 per
cent., above the January average of the 15 years 1886-1900.
February.—The month was the warmest for February for a great many years. It was dry during
the first three weeks, and very stormy and wet during the last week. The heavy gales on the 22nd and
27th caused much damage. The rainfall is about four-tenths of an inch below the February average.
The mean temperature of the month is nearly six degrees above the February average, and was at
Wallington 44.7 degrees. There were recorded at Wallington 92.1 hours of sunlight, which is 30 hours,
or 11 per cent., above the February average of the 15 years 1886-1900.
March.—The month was very warm, and also rather wet. The heat on the 25th was very
unusual, and the hottest part of the day would seem to have occurred at about 8.30 p.m., and to have
lasted till about 9 p.m. The month was very stormy, and the gales have done a good deal of damage.
The rainfall of the month is about 34 per cent. above the average. The mean temperature of the month
is about 40.7 degrees above the average, and was at Wallington 46.3 degrees. There were recorded at
Wallington 165.2 hours of sunlight, which is 50.2 hours, or 14 per cent., above the March average of
the 15 years 1886-1900.
April.—The first four and the last six days were wet and warm, whilst the rest of the month was
very cold, with sharp frosts. There were snow showers in the district between the 11th and 16th. The
rainfall is about a quarter of an inch above the average. The mean temperature of the month is between
two and three degrees below the average, and was at Wallington 44.0 degrees. There were recorded at
Wallington 153.2 hours of sunlight, which is 6'7 hours or one per cent. below the April average of the
15 years 1886-1900.
May.—The month was extremely wet during the first 10 days, and then again on the 16th and 17th,
and again on the 28th, 29th, and 30th. The fail was above the average of the 10 years (1891-1900) at
every station; in some cases more than three times. Though thunderstorms were experienced throughout
the district on the 9th, 17th, 28th, 30th, and 31st, the only ones that may be worth noticing are those
on the 30th and 31st, which were most severe. In the storm of the 30th 2.77 inches of rain fell in 65
minutes at Wallington. The damage done was very great in the district round Croydon, where this
storm was centred. The storm in the early morning of the 31st was not so bad, though the lightning
and thunder were incessant. The month was warm, and the mean temperature is about one degree
above the average, and was at Wallington 53.6 degrees. There were recorded at Wallington 189.5 hours
of sunlight, which is 11.1 hours or three per cent. below the May average of the 15 years 1886-1900.