Weather, September 1952 - March 1953

TREE PRESERVATION

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Section 23 of the Act provides that it shall be the duty of the Conservancy to notify to the local planning authoritv any area of land that in their opinion is of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna, geological or physiological features.

Section 21 provides that the County Council may («') provide Nature Reserves ; (ii) enter into agreement with any owner or occupier of land for securing that it shall be managed as a Nature Reserve—any agreement may impose restric.tions of rights over the land and may provide for payment of compensation by the C.C. ; (iii) make bye-laws for the protection of the Reserve, as given to the Nature Conservancy to (a) prohibit or restrict entry into or movement within a Nature Reserve ; (b) prohibit the "killing, taking, molesting or disturbance of living creatures ; taking, destruction or disturbance of eggs ; taking or interfering with Vegetation, or doing anything which will interfere with the soil or damage any object in the Reserve ; (c) prohibit or restrict (i) shooting of birds, (ii) depositing of rubbish, (/z'j)lightingoffires.

WEATHER, SEPTEMBER 1952—MARCH 1953 SEPTEMBER. This was the coldest September for 40 years with a mean temperature nearly 44° below the average 1902-41.

Rain feil on eleven of the first twelve days. Rather better weather though with cold N.E. winds prevailed round the middle of the month. Düring the last week there were three moderate to heavy falls of rain. T h e total for the month was 2.70 inches and the average 1902-41 is 1.82. T h e maximum temperature was 72° on the Ist and the minimum 35° on the 19th. Frosts occurred on the grass on five nights, which is unparalleled in the available records extending back to 1902. T h e sun record was on the low side but not outstandingly low.

October. Again in this month low temperature was a noticeable feature of the weather ; in fact it was the coldest October since 1939. It was not particularly wet, as this month frequently can be, the total was 1.73 inches. This fall was fairly distributed over the month. T h e best weather occurred from the 4th to 1 Ith and with a few nice days round the 16th. Sunshine was close to the normal. T h e maximum temperature was 60° on the 23rd and 24th and the minimum was 33° on the 12th and 15th. There were grass frosts on eight nights.

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WEATHER

November. The general low run of autumn temperatures was carried with greater severity into this month. Coupled with this it was extremely wet—the wettest since 1940. The mean temperature at 39.1° is the lowest since 1923 and 4° below the average 1902-41. There were some very low night minima^ The coldest night was the 25th with a screen minimum of 22° and a grass minimum of 11°. Frosts occurred on the grass on 20 nights which number is unsurpassed in the available records.

The only redeeming feature of this otherwise unpleasant month was the sunshine total of 71 hours.

December. There was very little improvement which could be recorded in this month over its predecessor. Temperatures were again low. Screen frosts were registered on 20 days and grass frosts on 22 days. Fog was rather frequent. The majority of the rain and snow feil from the 14th onwards. The total fall was 2.55 inches, the average 1902-41 being 2.43. As in November, the sun record was good—nearly 20 hours high.

January. In spite of many predictions that a severe winter was imminent while we were experiencing a bad autumn, January let us off lightly. The month was dry and dull and mainly cold, but wintry conditions with snow occurred round the 5th, 6th and 7th. From the 7th to 30th little rain or snow feil and anticyclonic conditions were predominant. It is hardly necessary to recall that the month went out with a trail of disaster on the night of the 31st-Feb. Ist. The total rain was 0.86 inches and the sunshine total only 32 hours.

February. The polar air introduced by the storm at the beginning of the month began a cold period which lasted for the first 16 days of the month. Wintry precipitation was fairly frequent during the first two weeks. The majority of the total rainfall occurred on the 8th, 9th and lOth. Otherwise the month was dry and latterly wild. The rainfall was 1.00 inch and the sun total 53 hours.

March. The dry weather starting on February 20th continued with no break until the 25th of March and was the longest spring drought since 1943. The sun total was on the high side at 130 hours. The mean temperature was 43.5°, a little high. The maximum temperature was reached on two days, the 25th and 26th The total rainfall was only .27 inches in the driest March since 1929 and the third driest since 1902. The total for the first three months of 1953 has proved to be the driest here since records were started in 1902.

R.

R.

WILSON.