Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/The Weather of February, 1878

by William Jerome Harrison

Meteorology of the Midlands.

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The Weather of February, 1878.

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By W. J. Harrison, F.G.S.

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February, 1878, was, without doubt, an unusually fine, mild, and dry month. The general uniformity of the weather over the Midlands has also been remarkable. Thus, nearly every observer notes with pleasure the fine weather on the 17th, which produced the maximum temperature at almost every station, the extreme being 62° at Burley-on-the-Hill, and 61° at Cheltenham. Similarly the greatest cold was experienced everywhere on the 1st, 7th, and 8th, being a continuation of the cold period which marked the end of January. The minimum thermometer fell to 19° at Stoney Middleton on the 6th, 7th, and 8th, and to 115° at Coston on the 8th. Rainfall was about two-thirds of the average for February, and at most stations the maximum fall occurred on the 12th, which was a changeable and stormy day. Greatest fall was 2.70in. at Alstonfield, with .69in. on the 12th.

Remarks On the Weather of February.

CHeltenham.—The month opened with frost and dull, lousy weather, changing to genial weather on the 16th. This continued till the 24th, when dull days with wind and rain concluded the month. The 17th, 19th, and 21st were especially lovely days. Mean barometer (corrected) 30.26in. Mean temperature 42.2°. Whitchurch. A mild and open month. Temperature above the average. Wooltaaston.— Mean temperature of month 41°. Mean daily average 11.2°. Leaton Vicarage.—An excessively mild month. Light westerly winds prevailed, Fog on 2nd and 10th to l4th, with east wind. Hoar frost on the 1st and 19th Primroses in flower in numbers, and vegetation generally very forward. Bishop's Castle, (More Rectory.)—Snow on the 12th. Missel thrush, song thrush, chaffinch, and blackbird were all singing throughout the month, the last-named much earlier than usual at this place. The month began with a sharp frost and bright, cloudless days, but was afterwards throughout singularly wild and fine. The absence of tempests and high winds was remarkable for February. Bishop's Castle, (E. Griffiths, Esq.)—Rainfall again not more than half the average. Warm month, and vegetation very forward. The l2th was a very changeable day. St. John's, Worcester.—Barometer uniformly high. Average noonday temp. 2° below February, 1877. Rainfall a little less, but on exactly same number of days, with polar and equatorial currents in both months. This year greatest cold on 1st, last year on the 28th. Fruit trees in bloom—Pear, (Marie Louise and Bishop's Thumb,) damson, apricot, and gooseberry. Barlaston.—Rainfall .89in. below average of last thirteen years. Mean temp. slightly above average. Light winds from all points, but chiefly S.E. S.W. and N.W. Barometer very high. Burton-upon-Trent.—Skating on shallow water on 1st. Picked woodbine in fall leaf on 2nd, currant and gooseberry on 23rd, and rhubarb on 24th. Bees and wasps out on l7th. Lunar halo at 6 p.m. on 12th,accompanied by easterly gale with rain and snow at 9 p.m. Weston-under-Lyziard.—Snow and rain on the 12th. Wrottesley.—Snow and sleet on 12th. Mean temp. 39.4°; last year 41.6°.Tamworth.—Hard frosts on 1st, 7th, and 8th. Bar. very high. All spring warblers singing by the 4th. Rainfall greatly below average, and land working better than it has done since 1874. Hedges budding fast. Coventry.—Ground in excellent working order for spade and plough. Thrush, missel thrush, skylark, hedge-sparrow, wren, and chaffinch have been in full song during latter part of month, but the blackbird, although very abundant, has been unusually silent. Bickenhill Vicarage.—On the whole a dry but gloomy month, with but little sunshine and no winds. The early part cold, with frosts; the latter half mild. Henley-in-Arden.—Rainfall .39in. below average of last seven years. Rugby.—February was remarkable for (1) the number of calm days—on sixteen days the wind was from 0 to 1; (2) the high average temperature; (3) the few days of sunshine—on only six days was any considerable amount of blue sky visible. Buxton.—Early part of month foggy and cloudy. In middle of mouth foggy mornings succeeded by bright sunshine. Snowdrop, crocus, and polyanthus blossomed. Few damp, cold, and windy days at end. Stuffynwood Hall.—Driest month since May, 1876, and very favourable for out-door work. Snow and sleet fell from 8 p.m., on 12th till 8 a.m. on 13th. Spondon.—Temp. above average. Much cloud. Wosksop.—First fortnight cold and frosts, with thick fog on night of 8th. A very little snow on night of 12th. Mansfield—Dry month, rainfall .75in. below average of last seven years. Fog in middle of month. Bar. high. Coston Rectory.—Fine month, with high bar. Vegetation very forward, trees and hedges breaking into bud and leaf. Rain and snow on night of 12th. The 17th a perfect spring day. Last six days dull and wet. Belvoir Castle.—Remarkably dry month. The old north-country proverb, “February fill dyke,” completely falsified. Frosty nights from 6th to 13th, Vegetation active. One consequence of the mild winter is seen in the abundance of keep for stock. Turnips are in excess of the requirements of most farmers. Good hay £3 per ton. Many spring flowers have appeared with the winter aconite and snowdrop, which usually follow those harbingers of spring, violets, primroses, yellow crocus, double daisies, Erica carnea, Anemone apennina, A. blanda, Myosotis dissitiflora, Rhododendron dauricum amongst the number. Belmont Villas.—Very mild month. Temp. below freezing point on five nights only. Mean 41.7°. S.W. winds on 22 days. Castle Ashby.—Rainfall about average of last five years, (1.59in.) “February fill dyke” has a bad character, which, however, appears to be the reverse of the truth. Results of last five years at this station show it to be the driest month in the year except May, (1.51in. average.) Burley-on-the-Hill.—Snow and rain on 13th. Altarnun Vicarage.—A remarkably dry month; the first ten days rather frosty. Orleton.—First twelve days dry and cold, with severe frosts, but no snow; remainder of month warm but cloudy, little sunshine, rainfall nearly an inch below average. Brampton, near Chesterfield.—8th, hazel catkins; 13th, snow on ground; 18th, ash leaf; 19th, lesser celandine and dog's mercury in flower; Rosa arvensis and sweet violet on 25th; Rosa canina on 28th.

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