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STATISTICAL, INCLUDING REMARKS ON THE NATURAL
AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
A summary of particulars required by the Ministry of Health is
set forth on the preceding page and further reference to certain points
mentioned will be found in other parts of the report.
Meteorological.
The rainfall during the year was considerably in excess of the average
for the whole country and was particularly pronounced in London and
"the Home Counties. In London there were 182 wet days in the 365,
which is 19 days more than the average. The holiday month of August
proved very disappointing for those who hoped for re-invigoration from
open air and sunshine. There were only ten days free from rain during
this month. The month showing the heaviest rainfall was September,
which, however, had a larger proportion of dry days than August. As a
climax to a season in every way disastrous to outdoor sports, a blizzard
swept over the country on Christmas Day, the Southern districts of
England being most severely affected, even to a depth of 6 or 7 feet of
snow in some places. Not since the winter of 1881 had such a snowstorm
been experienced in these districts.
December, with a maximum mean air temperature of 39.5° F., was
the coldest month, while August was the warmest, with a corresponding
figure of 71.7° F. The hottest day of the year occurred on June 16th
(shade max. 85° F.), the coldest on December 19th (shade minimum
18° F.). The maximum temperature for June, July and August were
85° F., 81° F., and 78° F., compared with 79° F., 89° F., and 84° F. in the
corresponding months of 1926.
The barometric readings in millibars varied from 1,003.5 in March
to 1,014.7 in May, the average for the year being 1,009.8. There was
most bright sunshine in May, with a daily mean of 6.54 hours, and least
in November, with .96 hours. Fog was noted on 41 days throughout the
year. the month of February having the largest number (12), while in
November there were only 5.
Population.
The estimated population of the City of Westminster for the year 1927
is given by the Registrar-General as 139,300 (the population as enumerated
at the 1921 Census was 141,578). The civilian population, which excludes
those belonging to the military forces in barracks and hospitals, numbered
136,500, and for the purpose of calculating the death-rate this number is
taken. Both gross and net totals show a large decrease on the
corresponding figures for 1926, which were 141,800 and 138,400
respectively.