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The N.E. and S.W. monsoons, which blow with so much regularity on the coast of China, are not much felt on the coast of Japan. The winds being at all seasons exceedingly irregular, frequently violent and subject to sudden changes. The N.E. and Easterly winds are generally accompanied with rain, with a high and falling barometer, and are usually not violent. The S.W. and Westerly winds are generally high, often violent, and accompanied with a low barometer. It is from the S.W. that the cyclones almost invariably come; with one and sometimes two of which we are visited yearly. On clear and pleasant days, which are in excess of all others, there is a regular land and sea breeze at all seasons.
As may be seen from the Table, the rainfall is above the average of most countries; varying much however from one to another. About two-thirds of the rain falls during the six months from April to October.
The steady hot weather, when it is considered safe to change to light summer clothing, does not generally set in before the latter decade of June or first of July, and ends, often very abruptly, about the middle of September.
The snow-fall is for the most part very light, not often exceeding two or three inches; though on one occasion, in the winter of 1861, it fell to a depth of twenty inches.
The ice seldom exceeds one inch or an inch and a half in thickness. Fogs are rarely noticed, so also is hail. Thunder storms are neither frequent nor severe. Earthquake shocks are frequent, averaging more than one a month; but hitherto, since the residence of foreigners in Yokohama, no very severe or dangerous shocks have occurred.
