NATURAL HISTORY

TRANSACTIONS

OF

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM.

I.-Meteorological Report for 1867. Edited by the Rev. R. F. WHEELER, M.A.

January. The year 1867 commenced with severe cold. The 1st of January was an extremely cold day throughout England. At Wakefield, the thermometer fell to 5° Fahrenheit, or 27° below freezing point. The severest snow-storm known in London for some years began on January the 2nd. The lowest daily readings of the thermometer at Greenwich, January 1-5, wereJanuary the 1st, 21.8°; January the 2nd, 15°; January the 3rd, 10-4°; January the 4th, 7.7°. The mean temperature of the month was 13.5°, or 23° below the average. It appears from the records of the daily temperature at Greenwich, that during the last fifty years only four days have had a lower mean temperature than January the 4th, 1867. In 1816 the mean temperature of February the 9th was 12.6°; 1823, January the 19th, 13.4°; 1838, January the 20th, 10.7°; 1841, January the 8th, 12.8°; 1867, January the 4th, 13.5°.

The four days (January 6-10) which followed this great frost were remarkable for their high temperature, accompanied by low atmospheric pressure. On the 11th another frost set in, and

continued till the 22nd.

A

The mean temperature of January at Greenwich was 34.2°, being 2° below the average of the preceding ninety-six years, 4.1° below the average of the preceding twenty-six years, and lower than any of the preceding years.

Wylam. A fine wintry month, with a good deal of snow and frost. Between the 5th and 8th the barometer fell (from 30-078 to 28-475) 1.603 inches very suddenly. There was a heavy gale in London and the Channel on the 8th, but it was almost calm at Wylam. A wind pressure of 351b on the square foot was recorded at Greenwich. The mean height of the barometer at The mean temperature

max. min.

2

was

9 A.M. was 29.540. 32.2°, which is 4.7° below the average of the preceding twelve years.

Alston.—The lowest reading of the thermometer for the year was on the 3rd, when it fell to 1° degree below zero. Taking the mean reading of the thermometer, the coldest days of the year were the 3rd, 5th, and 13th January, on each of which days the average temperature was 14°. The least range of temperature throughout the year occurred on the 7th, namely 2°.

Wallington. The first severe weather set in on January the 1st (thermometer down to 13°), and continued with frost and snow until the 13th. During the last week of the month the weather was mild and open.

Whitley. Contrary to what is usually the case, the snowstorm seems to have been more severe here than in places much further inland. In some parts of the roads the drifts had to be cut through to a depth of more than six feet.

North Shields.-The lowest range of the thermometer during the year was 14° on January 1st. The lowest reading on the ground was 10° on January 4th.

Snow fell at Otterburn from the 1st to the 23rd. At Wolsingham, on the 2nd, 5th, 9th to the 12th, and 14th to the 22nd. At Seaham, on the 2nd, 4th to the 6th, 10th to the 14th, 17th,

20th, and 24th. At North Shields, on thirteen days. At Wallington, on the 1st, 2nd, and 10th to the 23rd. At Whitley, on the 1st to the 5th, 9th to the 15th, 21st, and 22nd.

Hail fell at North Shields on four days.

Lightning was seen, but thunder was not heard at Allenheads on the 12th. At Whitley, on the 29th and 30th.

February. An old Latin weather proverb, quoted by Sir T. Browne in his "Vulgar Errors," tells us :

"Sic sol splendescat Maria Purificante,

Major erit glacies post festum quam ante fuit."

Which is popularised in the not uncommon English lines:—

"If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight;

But if Candlemas Day brings clouds and rain,

Winter is gone, and will not come again."

Candlemas Day, 1867, was remarkably fine over nearly the whole of England.

The Germans have also a couple of common proverbs about Candlemas Day:

"The shepherd would sooner see the wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than the sun."

And, "The badger peeps out of his hole on Candlemas Day, and when he finds snow, walks abroad; but if he sees the sun shining, he draws back again."

The month of February was marked by high temperature, not only in the north, but throughout England.

At Greenwich, the mean temperature was 44-7°, being 6.4° higher than the average of the preceding ninety-six years, and higher than that of any year since 1779, when it was 45.3°. In 1794 and 1850 the mean value (44·7°) was obtained.

Wylam. A very fine month, a remarkably even temperature prevailing throughout. A more sudden fall of the barometric. pressure than that of last month took place between the 3rd

and 6th, amounting to (30-155-28-841) 1.814 inches. The first twelve days of the month were generally windy, but the 6th was not more so than the rest; there was, however, a gale in London and the South of England on the 5th.

The mean height of the barometer was 29.907. temperature, 43·02°, which is 4·4° above the average.

The mean

Alston. The lowest reading of the barometer during the year was on the 6th, 28-445.

Wallington.-Until the 26th the weather was mild and fine. Many of the trees and shrubs were in bud, and many of the hardy flowers in blossom. During the last two days frost and snow set in, and hard weather continued up to March the 24th, which stopped all advance in vegetation.

North Shields.-The greatest depression of the barometer during the year, 28-492 inches, occurred at 2 P.M. on February the 6th..

Snow fell at Seaham on the 11th; at North Shields, on the 6th; at Whitley, on the 27th.

Hail fell at North Shields on the 27th.

Lightning was seen, but thunder was not heard, at Allenheads on the 6th.

Aurora were seen at North Shields on the 8th and 17th; at Whitley (very brilliant), on the 8th.

Lunar halos were seen at North Shields, on the 13th and 16th; at Whitley, on the 25th; at Allenheads, on the 11th.

March." A wet March makes a sad autumn.”—Old proverb. The weather during March, everywhere throughout the kingdom, presented a marked contrast to that of February. Cold and bitter winds, snow and storms, were the characteristics of March.

The mean temperature of the month at Greenwich was 87.7°, being 3-3° below the average of the preceding ninety-six years,