WEATHER REPORT FOR 1976

    The year started in devastating style. A depression deepened
considerably as it crossed Scotland on the 2nd of January. This resulted
in a great gale which swept the Country, causing considerable damage.
The first three weeks were mild, it then became much colder.
    February had mild and cold spells. March was Inainly cold with
easterly winds for 3 weeks, the last week being milder with the return to
the westerly airstream.
    There was a warm spell for Easter, but generally April was cold
for the most part, even though there was sunshine on nearly every day.
Sunshine was also plentiful in May, which was quite warm at times.
But by now the main concern was the lack of any amount of rainfall.
    June was sunny and very hot, with the highest June telnperatures
ever recorded, making the serious water shortage even worse. This
exceptionally hot spell continued into July, and the weather whiners
who had spent all their lives complaining about our dull and damp
climate, were now complaining about the continuous blazing sunshine.
Anticyclones which had dominated the weather throughout the sum-
continued through August, which was a cooler month. Though
temperatures were still above average. It was again very dry, making
12 consecutive months with below average rainfall. The countryside
was by this time very parched and our water supplies were at a dangerously
low level.
The long awaited rain came in early September, which was as wet
as the previous months had been dry. October too was unsettled and
wet,with very few days without precipitation of some sort.
November was also unsettled with some cold days. December was
a similar cheerless month, particularly cold for the last week.
So ends a year of extremes. A rnild dry winter was followed by a
dry spring and a hot dry summer. The hottest summer for 150 years.
The very wet autumn saved us frorn water rationing, after the worst
drought for at least 250 years. All combining to give what was
meteorologically speaking, a very remarkable year.