Rainfall was extremely heavy and at Clive Vale, three miles WSW. from Fairlight Church, the fall from midnight to 07.00 was 1.36 in., the greater part of which fell between midnight and 02.00.

At Hankham meteorological station, near Eastbourne, and 13 miles WSW. from Hastings, rainfall was 0.59 in. The wind here was also light ESE., becoming gusty and squally about 01.15 but did not exceed 20 m.p.h. between midnight and 03.00. Successions of thunderstorms were noted from this station to be rapidly moving from about S. and lightning between this point and NE. was incessant and presented a grand spectacle. Much rain below the high level cumulus and cumulonimbus prevented very many actual lightning flashes beiig seen, but several of those which were visible were observed to pass between the cloud base and the sea. There appears to have been little damage reported due to lightning on land, however.

Meteorological conditions at Hankham at 21.00 on July 3 were as follows :- Wind: ENE., 1.7 m.p.h., often falling to calm. Visibility: 2) miles. Cloud: one-tenth cirrus moving from 210° and a trace of altocumulus in broken fragments moving rather quickly and increasing from south. Air tempera- ture: 67.9’F. Relative humidity: 89%. Dew point: 65OF.

As no local observations of upper air conditions are available, it would be interesting to publish the details of the meteorological situation, etc. over SE. England on July 3-4, since the thunderstorms appear to have been of somewhat unusual development. A. E. MOON

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ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS SCOTTISH CENTRE

(Meetings Secretary : Mr. James Paton, M.A., B.Sc.) A meeting of the Scottish Centre was held on Saturday afternoon, Sep

tember 14, in the Department of Natural Philosophy, Edinburgh University, at which about 30 Fellows attended, some accompanied by friends. Mr. W. Dunbar. a Vice-President of the Society and Scottish Chairman, presided and introduced the meteorological sound films which were shown at the meeting. Afterwards tea was served in the library, providing an opportunity for Fellows to meet.

Mr. E. G. Dymond, M.A., is to lecture on the British Radiosonde, and it is hoped to be able to hold joint meetings with the Scottish Mountaineering Club (on ‘‘ Mountain Weather ”) and the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh. If it is at all possible a meeting wi l l be held in Glasgow and a summer meeting at St. Andrews. Commander G. F. Breese, D.S.C., senior warden of men’s hostels, St. Andrews University, and a Fellow of the Society, has kindly offered to assist in the arrangements for the latter.

The Chairman proposed thanks to the University authorities, represented at the meeting by Professor N. Feather, and to Mr. Borthwick for operating the projector. Mr. T. N. S. Harrower, M.A., B.Sc., of No. 18 Group R.A.F. Pitreavie, expressed thanks to Mr. Dunbar for making the long journey to Edinburgh to preside at the meeting.

FORTHCOMING MEETING IN SOUTH WALES Arrangements are well in hand for a joint meeting with the South Wales

Branch of the Institute of Physics at the University College, Swansea, on November 23, 1946. Papers on the Upper Troposphere and Lower Strato- sphere are expected by Mr. A. W. Brewer, M.Sc., Mr. W. C. Swinbank, B.Sc., and Dr. B. Cwilong.

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The programme for the coming session was discussed.