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46
unbroken succession of deep cyclonic disturbances. The closing
week was of a more mixed type, pressure becoming higher than
it had been for some weeks previously. Disastrous floods were
experienced, mainly over the Southern half of England, down to
the middle of the month, as the result of a Yery wet spell which
set in towards the end of January, rain falling every day for
nearly three weeks. There was a predominance of cold, but the
frosts, though sometimes sharp, were local in character, and did
not last through the day. Generally, for the month, pressure was.
decidedly below the average everywhere; the winds were varied
in direction, with Southerly to Westerly predominating in most
districts ; temperature and bright sunshine were in defect at
nearly all stations, and rainfall was in excess except at some
Northern stations.
March.—The weather during this month was of a much more settled
character—decidedly quieter and drier—than had been experienced
in the first two months of the year. High pressure systems were
more persistent in our neighbourhood, and the centres of none
of the few principal disturbances passed over any part of our
Islands. The winds consequently were varied in direction. Gales
were infrequent and of no great strength, and although rain, hail,
sleet or snow fell with moderate frequency, there was an entire
absence of very heavy falls. Pressure was above the average ;
the winds variable in Easterly and Westerly quarters ; temperature
was deficient nearly everywhere ; there was a moderate excess of
rain over some parts, but a deficiency over Britain ; and the
duration of bright sunshine was below the average.
April.—Atmospheric conditions of a varied character were experienced
during the month of April, ranging from very unsettled, wet, and
sometimes wild and stormy in the extreme West and North, to
comparatively fine, bright and dry in the South and East.
Thunderstorms occurred in various parts of the South and East of
England on the 12th and 13th. An almost uniform mildness
prevailed, there being no well-defined period of cold, the night