Weather Report

WEATHER

REPORT

APRIL, 1956.—This was a cold dry month with Nor.N.E. winds predominant. T h e mean temperature was 42.5° compared with the average of 46.2° (1901 - 1942). Frosts occurred on the grass on 21 nights. Rainfall was only .73 inch. (av. 1.87). Sun was close to average.

MAY.—Very dry and at times warm weather was the principal feature of the month.

Mean temperature was 54.4° (av. 53.1°).

The rainfall total was only .74 inch., .52 of which feil on the 28th in a thunderstorm, thus alleviating what was beginning to he a serious drought. Sun total was 240 hours, some 30 hours in excess of the average.

JUNE.—Deficient sunshine was the most noticeable feature of the weather which averaged out at 5 hours a day. Rainfall was 1.53 inches, the ten days 17th to 26th, being without measurable fall. T h e mean temperature was 56.0° (av. 58.6°).

T h e highest temperature was only 72° on the 25th. j U L Y .—Lack of sun was again noteworthy, the total was 156 hours (av. 198).

T h e severe southerly gales on the 29th call for mention, as one of the deepest July depressions ever recorded in the United Kingdom. A heavy thunderstorm in the morning of the 9th was also prominent in the month's record. Rainfall at 2.42 inches and a mean temperature of 61.9° do not call for comment. T h e temperature reached and exceeded 80° on the 25th and 26th.

AUGUST.—This was undoubtedly the worst month of the summer. Rainfall was 3.98 inches (av. 2.28). Sunshine, the least offending element, was 164 hours (av. 184). The temperature never exceeded 72°, and the daily average maximum was 65.7°. T h e rainfall was well distributed, but the first five days were the worst. Düring this period heavy rain and thunderstorms were frequent. The damage done by hail has already received prominence. Some extraordinary low Barometer readings for the time of year were again recorded.

SEPTEMBER.—The first week followed in August's footsteps with frequent rain. In fact the first half of the month was wet and disturbed. There was a change round the autumn equinox, when some of the best weather of the summer came. The temperature reached 75° on the 25th, 3° higher than the wärmest day in June and August. Sunshine was again low and rainfall high. T h e mean temperature was, however, a little above normal.

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WEATHER

REPORT

OCTOBER.—Here little of any significance occurred. Rainfall was 1.44 inches, low for October. Sun and mean temperature were close to the average. T h e last few days were unpleasant, with cold north winds and squally showers.

NOVEMBER.—The second dry November running .82 inch of rain. T h e mean temperature was slightly average 19.2° to 41°. A cold spell around the 22nd gave the most severe frost recorded this winter (time mid-February). Sunshine calls for no comment.

gave only below the and 23rd, of writing

DECEMBER.—Sun deficiency which was a record was the outstanding feature. T h e r e were only just over 14 hours. T h e average is near 55 hours. T h e r e were successive days with no sunshine from the 14th to 21st. Rainfall was 1.94 inches, only at Christmas was there any suggestion of a cold type of weather, but this proved only transitory. There was little frost.

J A N U A R Y , 1957.—This was the mildest January since 1948, with the mean temperature nearly 4° above normal. Rainfall was 1.22 inches (below the average). Sunshine at 58 hours was slightly high. Frosts occurred on 14 nights (compared with 21 nights in April, 1956, as a matter of interest).

R. R. WILSON, Belstead Hall.

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS M O L E ( T a l p a europea).—In June I saw a mole swim across a small shallow stream about 5 yards wide.—B. B A R R I N G T O N , Hollesley.

(Neomys fodiens).—In November, 1955, I caught a melanistic water shrew, black all over save for a small buffish patch under the chin and a grey stripe about } inch wide down the underside from chin to tail.—ROY DRIVER, Knodishall.

WATER SHREW

Melanism in the water shrew is apparently not uncommon.

Barrett-Hamilton and Hinton ( " British Mammals " 1910 - 21) say that there is no evidence that it has any recognisable distribution according to locality but the subject is obviously worthy of investigation. C. (Mustela erminea).—A stoat was recently caught in a mole trap in my garden. T h e trap was missing and was found in a hedge some five yards from where it had been s e t : the stoat was dead in the trap. Weasels are not uncommonly caught in mole traps, but I have never before known a stoat to be so caught.

B. BARRINGTON, Hollesley.

STOAT