Page:Weather Facts and Predictions.djvu/48

 some time. If the season be winter, frost, and perhaps snow, may be expected; if summer, the weather will become dry, warm, and bracing, without being sultry or oppressive.

If easterly winds have largely predominated in autumn, and south-westerly winds have begun to prevail towards the end of November, or at the beginning of December, exceptionally mild weather with storms of wind and rain will follow till about Christmas. Indeed this sort of weather occurs almost every year, and its beginning is popularly known as St. Martin′s summer.

If easterly winds predominate in spring largely above the average, the summer is likely to be characterised by S.W. winds with much rain and moisture, and little sunshine. If easterly winds nearly fail in spring, they are likely to prevail in summer, and the summer will be characterised by clear skies, and dry warm bracing weather, with much sunshine.

There is strong reason to believe that whatever be the prevalent direction of the wind during a period of about 10 days at either equinox, wind of much the same direction will on the whole prevail during the succeeding three or four months, or even up to the next equinox.

The first fortnight in January, (or days from January 6—20,) usually embraces the coldest period of the year.

Good harvests depend (meteorologically) on a warm sunny July and August. The prevalence of sunny weather in June ripens crops prematurely, and the grain is deficient in size.