THE WEATHER.

Southland Times, Issue 1005, 17 August 1868, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

* METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, JULY, 1868. Mabtbkpaie Statiok. — The weather during July was extremely mUd, but unsettled and showery throughout, and compared very unfavorably with the same month in most previous years. ," The wind was generaUy light, the diurnal movement on no occasion exceeding 260 miles. On the Bth, the barometer went down to 28-97 inches, with a threatening appearance of sky. No storm foUowed, but the atmosphere was much disturbed for several days, and frequent showers of hail and sleet fell. On the 10th, from 3 p.m. to 3.35 a.m., parhetion (or mock sun) was visible. This is avery rare phenomenon, and has not occurred at any other time during the last nine years. There was a fine solar halo at 4 p.m. on the 15th. On the 20th, the barometer suddenly rose to 30*38, at which point it remained stationary until the next day, when it commenced faUing, and sank so rapidly that on the 23rd it was as low as 28*98. It then rose, and on the 25th stood at 30*25. This extraordinary fluctuation— a faU of I*4o in 48 hours, and then a rise of 1*27 in the ensuing 48 hours — was accompanied by no change of weather here, but there is reason to beUeve a severe gale occurred to the northward. The mean temperature of the air was 43*7 deg, which is I*B deg above the average of nine years. The rainfaU on the surface of the ground was 4*39 inches, or 1*26 inch in excess of the average of the same period. A very violent and protracted thunderstorm occurred during the night of the 14th, and others of less severity on the 11th, 13th, 16th, and 17th. Barometer— Maximum, 30*382 (20), minimum, 28*977 (8) ; mean, 20*752, range, 1*405 inch. Thermometer in Shade— Maximum, 61*6 (17) ; minimum, 25*0 (1) ; mean, 43*7 ; mean daily range, 218. Radiation — Solar maximum, 92*8 (23). terrestrial minimum, 20*3 (22). Hygrometer — Dew-point, 35*8 deg ; vapor tension, o*2ll inch ; humidity, "74. Rainfall— Total in month, 4*39 inches, maximum daily, o*BB inch (15) ; days rain fell, 18. Evaporation — Total in month, 1*24 inch. Clouds -Mean amount, 5*5 (0-10.) Wind— N, 0 ; N.E., 0 j E., 2 ; S.E., 1 ; S., 2 ; S.W., 0; W., 16; N.W., 10 days. Anemometer — Total movement, 3755 mfles : mean diurnal, 121 ; maximum, 260 (17.) Thunder on 11th. 13th, 14th, 16th, and 17th : snow on 18th. HaU on 6th, Bth, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th 16th, 17th, and 18th. Mock sun (parhetion) on 10th ; solar halo on 15th : No gales or fogs. Chaelbs Rous Mabekn, Director of Meteorological Stations.