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

by William Jerome Harrison

The Weather of January, 1878.

 

---

 

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

 

---

 

In the following columns we have the pleasure of presenting to our readers by fur the moat complete monthly return of the Temperature and Rainfall of the Midland Counties which has ever appeared in any publication. It embraces returns from about seventy stations, including three distant points—Carlisle, Ventnor, and Altarnun Vicarage, Cornwall—the returns from which will he useful and interesting for comparison with our own central stations. Many deficiencies, however, remain to be supplied, and we shall be pleased to give information as to description and cost of meteorological instruments.

The influence of the weather upon animal and plant life is a branch of the subject to which we would direct special attention, and we trust to receive many notes for February as to the time of opening of our ordinary spring flowers—Snowdrops, Primroses, the Speedwell, Hazel, Pilewort, (Ranunculus ficaria,) Dog's Mercury, and Coltsfoot for example. In this matter our readers generally could render important help.

Reverting to the weather of the first month of 1878, the figures we print below show unanimously that while the rainfall was below the average, the temperature, especially for the first three weeks, was decidedly above it. The maximum rainfall at nearly all stations was on the 27th, but only at Buxton (1°36 ins.} did it exceed one inch in depth. There are one or two returns in which a heavy fall is entered on the 28th, but this we suspect is caused by entering the rainfall to the day on which it was measured, The rain-gauge should he emptied daily at nine a.m., and the amount entered to the preceding day. The temperature desired is that in the shade at 4ft. above ground, (thermometers in a Stevenson's stand if possible.) If instruments are placed otherwise it should be noted on the form. We shall be pleased to forward forms for the purpose of recording observations to all who will help in the work of taking the record of the weather of the Midlands as complete as possible, and all forms should be filled up and sent within the first week of the ensuing month to Mr. W. J. Harrison, Town Museum, Leicester.

Remarks On the Weather of January.

Haughton Hall.—Two inches of snow fell on 25th. Wootstaston, Early part of month very mild. Primroses in blossom in first week. Leaton Vicarage.—Cloudy and mild, with fogs, till 23rd. Snow and rain 24th to 26th, followed by severe frost to end of month. Bishop's Castle.—Rainfall about half the average of last five years. Burghill, Hereford. Barometer high, especially from 9th to 20th. Warm period, with high W.S.W, winds, on 2ist and 22nd. West Malvern.—Mean Temperature, 38:8°, Barometer, 30.03. Barlaston.—Rainfall one-fifth of an inch above average. Patshull.—A very mild month. Burton.——First fortnight mild; the last cold and wintry, frequent snow. Skating on shallow pools on 3lst. Trent in flood 28th and 29th. Weston-under-Lyzard.—Snow 23rd to 25th; snow, with rain, 26th and 27th. Lightning on 25th, between six and seven p.m. Tamworth.—Barometer on 12th reached 30.72in. Rainfall below the average. A good month for working on the land. Alstonfield Vicarage.—Snow fell early on morning of 23rd, and ground remained covered to end of month. Coventry.—A mild and open mouth, with some frosts after the 24th. Noticed the small bat flying about on several mild evenings. Rugby School.—Mean height of barometer for January 30.155 inches, (corrected for temperature and sea level.) Highest reading. {corrected,} 3.655 inches, on the 12th. Lowest reading, (corrected.) 29.424 inches, on the 25th. Bickenhill Vicarage.—A damp month, with hard frost on last three days. Heavy gale on 20th to 22nd. Brampton S. Thomas.—Temperature above the average. Rainfall about the mean for the last ten years. Snow fell on three days, but to no great depth. Gale on the 25th. Wild honeysuckle in leaf on the 4th. Buxton.—Dull heavy weather prevailed in earlier part of the month. and was succeeded by slight falls of snow. Thunder and lightning on evening of 23rd, followed by snow and frost. Belper.—Mean temperature on month was 39.3°. Linacre Reservoirs.—Rainfall about the average, bat only half the fall of January, 1877. Stuffinwoood Hall.—First half of month was mild. Snow on 22nd to 28th. Westerly gale on 21st. Spondon.—An unusually dull and damp month, with little sunshine. Worksop.— Warm until the 23rd. Snow fell on 24th. High winds on l5th and 16th, and 20th to 23rd. Syston.—Rainfall below the average, and just half that of January, 1877. Kibworth.—Rainfall below the average, but remarkable for the many days on which some fell. Waltham-le-Wold.—Very mild and open until the last week. Markey Harborough.—-Dense fog on 18th. High winds 20th to 24th. Snow on 24th. Ashby Magna.—Extremely mild mouth, except the last week. Coston Rectory.—Aconite in flower on the 5th. Snow on 10th and 25th. Gale on 20th and 21st. Belvoir Castle.—Temperature above the average. S. and S.W. winds on fifteen days; N. and N.W. winds on fifteen days. Vegetation was active during the greater part of the month. Violets, primroses, and daisies were in bloom, and Aconite blossomed on the third week. Rather sharp hoar-frost on the three last days of the month; ice two inches in thickness formed. Caste Ashby.—Rainfall unusually small for January. The average of the last five years is 2.12in. for this month. Sedgemoor.—Snow 23rd to 25th. Westerly winds prevailed. Croyland Abbey.—Snow on 24th. Burley-on-the-Hill.——Mild and fine till 21st. Snow 26th to 28th. Radcliffe Observatory.—Drizzle or fog throughout the month, Snow fell on 10th and 25th. and sleet on 8th and 23rd. Ventnor.—Sea fogs on two or three days early in month. Barometer unusually high; reached 30.616 (uncorrected.) Slight fall of snow on 25th. Altarnun Vicarage, Cornwall.—The driest January but one (1876) in fourteen years, in consequence of prevailing N. and E. winds, Sharp frost 9th to 12th, and for last week of month.

---