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39
the year, so that the cold spell continued with the exception of
May, 1888, for 14 months. The exception in May was but slight,
as the mean daily temperature for that month was only 0.5 deg.
in excess. The highest temperatures recorded were above 85
deg. in the months of June, July and August, so that occasionally
there were warm " spells " for a short time ; but the cold
was otherwise so continuous that so low a mean temperature
for three consecutive months had not occurred since 1845.
The weather in July was remarkably cold and wet, the period
of sunshine being small, and the rainfall at Greenwich greater
than in any July since 1828. In August similar weather
prevailed, except that the rainfall was less than in July. In
September, fortunately, the weather was comparatively dry,
the mean temperature not so much below the average as before,
so that as there was more sunshine it was not so unpleasant as
in the previous months.
The highest temperature recorded in January was 52.2
degrees, and the lowest 25.4 degrees, giving a range of 26.8
degrees, and the rainfall was 70.70 inches. In February the
highest temperature was 51.6 degrees, and the lowest 20 4,
affording a range of 31.2 degrees, with a rainfall of 0.66 inches.
In March the highest temperature was 55.6 degrees, and the
lowest 26'2 degrees, giving a range of 29.4 degrees, with the
much larger rainfall of 2.91 inches. The weather in January
was generally fine and dry although cold; in February cold
and dry with little sunshine; in March cold and wet with a
rainfall of 1.24 inches in excess of the mean. From the middle
of February to March 6th the cold was unusual, the mean
temperature having been 31.5 degrees, which is lower than for
any corresponding period since 1814. In April the highest
temperature recorded was 65.4 degrees, and the lowest 28.4
degrees, giving a range of 37.0 degrees, with a rainfall of 2.05
inches. In May the highest temperature was 77.0 degrees, and
the lowest 35.2 degrees, affording a range of 41.8 degrees, the
rainfall amounting to 0.93 inches only. In June the highest