April, 1890. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)—The mean temperature for April, 1890, 50.4 degrees, is 2.5 degrees above the normal and 0.8 degrees below the mean of the corresponding month of 1889. The warmest days were the 13th, 14th and 23d, when the maximum temperatures ranged from 75 to 86 degrees. The coolest days were the 1st, 2d, 19th and 20th, when the minimum temperatures recorded ranged from 21 to 34 degrees. On these dates ice generally formed in all portions of the State and did very great damage, especially on the 1st and 2d, almost, if not entirely destroying the peach crop of the season of 1890. PRECIPITATION.-The average precipitation for the month, 2.65 inches, is 0.82 inches below the normal and 2.67 inches below the average for the corresponding month of 1889. The most noticeable features of the month were the almost total absence of rain from the 9th to the 23d, inclusive, and the severe local storm which passed over thecentral portion of Atlantic county on the 27th. This storm was accompanied by very heavy thunder and lightning, high winds (the force of a strong gale), and a remarkable downpour of rain, measuring 1.39 inches in fifteen minutes, or at a rate of 5.56 inches per hour. The first half of the month was noted for its excessive cloudiness and the latter half for its excessive sunshine. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (in inches).-Monthly mean, 30.119; maximum observed,. 30.67, at Philadelphia, on the 2d; minimum observed, 29.46, at New York City, on the 9th; range for the State, 1.21. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)-Monthly mean, 50.4; highest monthly mean, 53.3, at Oceanic; lowest monthly mean, 48.0, at Atlantic City; maximum, 86.0, at Readington, on the 13th and 14th; minimum, 21.0, at Egg Harbor City, on the 2d; range for the State, 65.0; greatest local monthly range, 60.0, at Beverly and Egg Harbor City; least local monthly range, 45.0, at Asbury Park; greatest daily range, 50.0, at Beverly, on the 13th; least daily range, 2.0, at Lambertville, on the 9th, 10th and 25th. PRECIPITATION (including melted snow, in inches).-Average for the State, 2.65; greatest, 4.58, at Egg Harbor City; least, 1.89, Locktown. Average number of days on which precipitation equaled 0.01 inch, 8.5; average number of days on which cloudiness was 8 or more on a scale of 10, 6.7. Wind-Prevailing direction, northwest and southwest. MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA (dates observed).—Thunder Storms-4th, 7th, 8th, 9th,10th, 13th, 26th, 27th, 28th. Frost-2d, 3d, 6th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 29th. Solar Halos-1st, 2d, 4th, 8th, 15th, 16th, 23d, 24th. Lunar Halos-3d, 4th, 9th, 29th. Hail-9th. Polar Bands-22d, 29th (Beverly). May, 1890. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)-The mean temperature for May, 1890, 60.7 degrees, is 1.0 degree above the normal and 1.6 degrees below the mean of the corresponding month of 1889. The warmest days were the 1st, 4th, 5th, 10th, 16th, 19th, 24th, 27th, 29th and 31st, when the maximum temperatures recorded ranged from 75 to 87 degrees. The coolest days were the 2d, 3d, 8th, 9th and 16th, the minimum temperatures ranging from 33 to 41 degrees. A very heavy frost occurred on the 9th, in the counties of Middlesex, Monmouth, Burlington, Atlantic, Morris and Sussex, where considerable damage was done to all tender vegetation. The highest temperature was reported from Beverly, Burlington county, and Oceanic, Ocean county; the lowest from Newton, Sussex county, and New Brunswick, Middlesex county. PRECIPITATION.—The average precipitation for the month, 4.24 inches, is 0.50 inches above the normal and 0.15 inches above the mean for the corresponding month of 1889. Thunder storms were quite frequent during the month, and as compared with May, 1889, just double the number occurred. At the close of the month all the staple crops were in a most flourishing condition, except in some of the southern counties, where the aphis was doing considerable damage to wheat and rye. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (In inches).—Monthly mean, 29.990; maximum observed, 30.310, at Newark and New York City, on the 22d; minimum observed, 29.610, at Philadelphia, on the 6th; range for the State, 0.700. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)-Monthly mean, 60.7; highest monthly mean, 66.0, at Trenton; lowest monthly mean, 57.0, at Atlantic City; maximum, 87.0, at Beverly and Oceanic, on the 19th and 29th respectively; minimum, 33.0, at New Brunswick and Newton, on the 9th; range for the State, 51.0; greatest local monthly range, 52.0, at New Brunswick; least local monthly range, 30.0, at Ocean City; greatest daily range, 42.0, at Freehold, on the 5th; least daily range, 20, at Newark, on the 6th. PRECIPITATION (including melted snow, in inches).—Average for the State, 4.24; greatest, 7.17, at Newton; least, 2.60, at Rancocas. Average number of days on which precipitation equaled 0.01 inch, 12; average number of days on which cloudiness was 8 or more on a scale of 10, 11. Wind-Prevailing direction, southwest. MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA (dates observed)-Thunder Storms-1st, 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th. Frost-2d, 9th. Solar Halos-3d, 9th, 10th, 30th. Lunar Halos-3d, 5th, 29th. Hail-1st, Beverly; 14th, Imlaystown. Meteors-2d, Madison; 19th, Beverly; 22d, Egg Harbor City. OBSERVERS' NOTES. CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE.-The month has but little to note, excepting its favorable condition for growing crops and grasses. No bad storms. Forests look unusually beautiful. UNION. The marked features of the month were the cool nights, and up to the 20th, frequent though not heavy rains; these conditions have rendered the season backward. Cereals and grass have grown luxuriantly, while most vegetables have been retarded. Chimney swallows appeared on the 1st, and the oriole on the 4th. June, 1890. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)—The mean temperature for June, 1890, 70.7, is 1.3 above the normal, and 0.8 above the mean of the corresponding month of 1889. The warmest days were the 4th, 5th and 25th, and the coolest the 1st, 3d, 8th, 9th, 13th and 30th. The highest temperature recorded was 95.0, at Woodbury, Gloucester county, and Imlaystown, Monmouth county, and the lowest 42.0, at Gillette, Morris county. PRECIPITATION.-The rainfall during the month was very unevenly distributed, two stations reporting a total exceeding five inches, ten exceeding four inches, twelve exceeding three inches, three exceeding two inches, three exceeding one inch, and one less than an inch. The average for the month, 3.59 inches, is 0.39 inches below the normal, and 0.14 inches below the average for the corresponding month of 1889. The stations in the central and northern portions of the State generally received an excess, while those in the southern portions report a deficiency. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (in inches)-Monthly mean, 30.004; maximum observed, 30.360, at Atlantic City and Philadelphia, on the 9th; minimum observed, 29.780, at New York City, on the 28th; range for the State, 0.580. TEMPERATURE (degrees F.)—Monthly mean, 707; highest monthly mean, 76.0, at Trenton; lowest monthly mean, 67.0, at Allaire; maximum, 95.0, at Woodbury and Imlaystown, on the 5th; minimum, 42.0, at Gillette, on the 30th; range for the State, 53.0; greatest local monthly range, 48.0, at Gillette; least local monthly range, 30.0, at Bridgeton, Readington, Trenton and Union; greatest daily range, 48.0, at Readington, on the 30th; least daily range, 3.0, at Ocean City, on the 16th. PRECIPITATION (in inches) —Average for the State, 3 59; greatest, 5.16, at Tenafly; least, 0.99, at Bridgeton. Average number of days on which precipitation equaled 0.01 inch, 6.7; average number of days on which cloudiness was 8 or more on a scale of 10, 6.2. Wind-Prevailing direction, southwest. MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA (dates observed) -Thunder Storms are reported as follows: Beverly, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 21st, 22d, 23d, 24th and 28th; Billingsport, 11th and 12th; Cape May Court House, 11th, 12th and 24th; Tenafly, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 14th and 25th; Rancocas, 4th and 25th; Woodbury, 6th, 11th, 23d and 24th; Imlaystown, 4th and 6th; Ocean City, 11th, 12th and 18th; Trenton, 4th, 6th, 11th and 12th; Union, 4th, 6th (2), 12th (2) and 14th; Freehold, 4th, 6th and 11th; South Orange, 4th, 6th, 13th and 14th; Madison, 4th, 6th, 7th, 11th and 12th. Hail —Moorestown, on the 16th at 5 A. M.; Rancocas, on the 6th at 4:30 A. м, and at Beverly on the 11th. Solar Halos were observed at Beverly on the 8th and 10th, Egg Harbor City on the 7th, Rancocas on the 9th, Woodbury on the 8th and 9th, and at Union on the 9th. Lunar Halos were observed at Trenton, Tenafly and Beverly on the 26th. Meteors at Madison on the 8th. Polar Bands at Madison on the 8th, and at Beverly on the 8th, 10th and 27th. |