Page:VCH Worcestershire 1.djvu/115

 CLIMATE FROM its conformation and the fact that a large portion of the county is included in the lower Severn basin, the main meteoro- logical features of Worcestershire do not differ from those of the rest of the West Midland district. On each side of the county the hills rise to a considerable elevation, Malvern reaching to nearly 1,500 feet and Birmingham to 585 feet. The rest of the county does not attain to much over 400 feet, except some of the hills on the Abberley and Lickey ranges. In the river basin Stourport, near where the Severn enters the county, is only about 100 feet above sea level. The result is a moderate rainfall, varying from 26-00 at Malvern to about 2 roc in the river basin. The mean for the county would be about 2 3 "00. To show the meteorological features of the county the figures are given on a line drawn across it from east to west at Malvern at a point about 500 feet above sea level, at Worcester at an elevation of 180 feet, and at Birmingham, or rather Edgbaston, at about 500 feet. Although spots may be found that are both wetter and drier, yet on the whole the line fairly represents the county meteorology. The figures given are, except when otherwise stated, for the mean of five years ending December 31, 1900, and they give the rainfall, barometric pressure and temperature at the three stations. {a) Rainfall The mean annual rainfall is 23*18 inches. At Malvern it is 24-88 inches, at Worcester 20-47 inches, at Birmingham 24-21 inches. Having regard to the series of dry years included in the last five, 1896- 1900, it is probable that if taken over a longer period the mean annual rainfall would be higher. The monthly rainfall figures are — Malvern Worcester Birmingham Malvern Worcester Birmingham January. 2-35 1-84 1-66 July. . i-6o 1-47 2-19 Febraary 1-44 1-22 I -20 August. 2-41 1-93 2-90 March. 1-87 1-49 I -65 September 2-23 1-54 1-90 April. 175 1-37 1-66 October. 2-75 2-14 2-55 May. . 1-65 1-45 2-00 November 2-35 1-84 2-32 June. . 1-68 1-94 1-97 December 2-8o 2-25 2-26 It will thus be seen that the autumn is wetter than the spring, the wettest months being October, November and December, the last the wettest of all. Probably however it is hardly fair to take the dry cycle which the last five years cover as in any way showing what the real 77