Kingston records (regionally related)

66.

This Winter I am informed has been of longer duration and marked with more rigour than usual. The snow commenced to fall in the latter end of October. The duration of the frost is always accompanied with a fine clear cloudless sky, and dry Atmosphere that renders it both pleasant and considerably diminishes the piercing quality it possesses the Atmosphere is loaded with vapour.

This purity and dryness may be exemplified from the following simple observations that the roofs of the Dock yard Barracks, churches and public buildings are covered with sheets of tin which are deprived of the least corrosion. I have also remarked that the large Iron screws and nails employed to bind the uprights and posts of the wood bridge over the Cataraqui bear the appearance of having been brought from the shop but yesterday being entirely arrested from any sort of rust, after they have now stood seven winters.

15th March 1841. The mercury has been this day eleven degrees below zero, and it has been stated two gentlemen who keep a register of the fluctuation of the thermomenter, that it has been known to sink thirty degrees below that point, but this was considered its very greatest depression, and happens only once or twice in a season, and then its continuance rarely exceeds 48 hours.

But the general range of cold in medium years may be estimated from 25 degrees above to 30 below zero, on this Lake.