WEATHER OCTOBER,
REPORT
1955—MARCH,
1956
OCTOBER, 1955. The weather was generally changeable and at times stormy. However, from the 8th to 14th, some of the most pleasant autumn days were experienced. Probably the outstanding event of the month was the rainfall of 2.04 inches credited to the 28th. Over 20 hours of continuous rain occurred over the 21st - 22nd. Sunshine total was above average, as was rainfall due to the fall already mentioned, 3.9 ins., being the month's aggregate. The mean temperature was low, the latter part of the month being rather cold. NOVEMBER. The first eleven days gave practically all the rainfall of this very dry month. The total was only 0.72 inches. (The previous lowest was 0.75 in 1945) and was the lowest in the available records from 1902. The remainder of the month was almost entirely anticyclonic. The sunshine total was a little low ; there was none on ten days. The mean temperature was close to the average. DECEMBER. Here there was little of interest. The rain total at 1.46 was, however, decidedly on the low side for December, but nothing uncommon. Sunshine was a little above the average 1903 - 41. The mean temperature was a degree and a half above the average 1902 - 41. The 19th and 22nd, produced fairly severe frosts. This feature, however, proved non-persistent. JANUARY, 1956. A wet month ; the only one so far in 1956 at the time of writing (mid-May). Rainfall was 3.42, more than an inch above the average. Mean temperature was 38.2°, close to the normal and the sunshine total of 59.5 hours calls for no comment. The last day of the month gave a change of weather type ; Continental easterlies becoming established with freezing temperatures and some snow. FEBRUARY. The first day of February was in all probability the coldest day of the present Century. The temperature never exceeded 22°F all day. February, 1956 was colder than February 1929, but not so cold as 1947 by a considerable amount. The mean temperature for February, 1947, was 28.0° and in 1956 it was 30.0°. In 1929 it was 31.4°. Rainfall and other precipitation gave only 0.69 inches, nearly an inch below the average. Sunshine was some ten hours low. Frosts occurred on the ground on 26 nights. The lowest screen temperature was 14° and the lowest grass temperature was 5°.
330
WEATHER REPORT
MARCH. After a rather squally (westerly type) Start, March proved to be sunny, dry and at times frosty. Easterly winds were predominant after the sixth. Rainfall was only .80 inches. Sunshine was very much to the fore, the total of 146.0 hours being some 20 hours above the average. Frosts occurred on 16 nights on the grass, otherwise temperature calls for no comment. R.
R.
WILSON.