Extreme weather

“ A slight fall (that is, to the left) causes anxiety as to coming rain, and a big depression forebodes much rain or a violent storm of wind. In either case of “fall,” the shutters come over the eyes of the observer. Next, even before breakfast, a move is made to the self-registering thermometer (set the night before) on a stone, a couple of feet above the grass. A good reading, above the freezing-point in winter and much above it in summer, indicates the absence of killing rimes, that are generally followed by rain. ”

“ The clouds and storm rapidly pass over eastward, and the wind falls, while the sun warms the air, and in a few minutes removes every trace of hail or snow. Thus we were often treated to winter and summer weather, with all the gradations between, several times over in the space of an hour. ”

“ WEATHER SALUTATIONS
To any one intent on some definite employment out-of-doors, such as fishing, sketching, botanising, geological mapping, or any pursuit where quiet air is necessary, nothing can be more exasperating than a struggle against the ceaseless driving of the blast. Mere heavy rain, if it fall straight, can be endured, for it allows one to stand, to turn round, and if an umbrella be used, to consult a map or guide-book. With a furious wind, however, you can do nothing but
Grow sick, and damn the climate—like a lord. ”

“ If this disposition to condensation becomes extensive, cirri form and run into cirro-stratus, or they extend, coalesce, and form stratus; the surface-wind will be attracted under them, the thermometer fall in summer or rise in winter, and a storm begin. Intense action and sudden cold may exist in and under this counter-trade over the southern portion of the country, while all is calm, warm, and balmy at the north. Heavy snow storms sometimes pass at the south when there are none at the north, and a corresponding state of the weather follows. ”

“ When you see a halo about the top of a mountain, you know that bad weather is expected. The same is true when a halo appears about the moon. This indicates rain, or if the lower clouds break up and the upper clouds, or a second light covering of clouds, are seen above the lower ones, it speaks for continued bad weather. In some localities if rainy weather is continuing for some time, and a certain change in wind sets in, it will indicate that good weather is coming. ”

“ In short, although heat and cold are mainly dependent upon the altitude of the sun, aided by the other arrangements we have alluded to, yet the counter-trade, and the reciprocal action which takes place between it and the earth, are most powerful agents, mitigating the rigors of winter, bringing about the changes from cold to warm weather which [Pg 105] the sun is too far south to produce. And on the other hand, by this reciprocal action, producing the electrical phenomena, the gusts, the tornadoes, the hail storms, and the cool seasons of summer, and the period of intense cold in winter. ”

“ Rain storms are preceded from twelve to forty-eight hours by barometer falling steadily, increasing humidity, high temperature, with wind east or south, cirro-stratus clouds in southern or western horizon, and eastern horizon obscured by haze.
Red sky at sunrise indicates strong winds; if humidity is much below the mean, the color is usually a brilliant scarlet; if humidity is high, the color is more crimson, with a purple tinge and rain follows. When wind backs from northwest to southwest, clear weather follows. ”

“ In the whole front of the depression the temperature rises, and the atmosphere feels muggy and close. In the right-hand front the clouds assume the cumulo-stratus type, with driving rain later on. In the left-hand front the air is cooler, but still oppressive, with an easterly wind and overcast sky, succeeded by drizzling rain or ill-defined showers. When the trough of the depression has passed the barometer begins to rise, the wind changes and becomes squally, with showers of rain; the air grows cooler, and the clouds break and ultimately clear away. ”

“ Then, with intervals of bright weather, not very cold, storm succeeds storm, heaping snow on snow, until from thirty to fifty or sixty feet has fallen; but on account of heavy settling and compacting, and the waste from evaporation and melting, the depth in the middle region, as stated above, rarely exceeds ten feet. Evaporation never wholly ceases, even in the coldest weather, and the sunshine between storms melts the surface more or less. ”

“ First, they are not continuous, like the trades, but prevailing winds, and are storm winds; they always blow toward a region, or portion of the ocean, covered at the time by clouds and falling weather. ”

“ The conditions which surround the liquefaction of ice and snow, the evaporation of water, and the condensation of the water vapor of the air are fundamental factors in the science of weather. The distribution of precipitation—that is, rain, snow, hail, and the floating forms of fog and cloud—affect the habitability of the earth and human activities to a very great degree. ”

“ Misty clouds, forming or hanging on heights, show wind and rain coming, if they remain, increase, or descend; if they rise or disperse, the weather will improve or become fine.
RAIN. The atmosphere at a given temperature is capable of retaining only a given quantity of aqueous vapour, invisibly diffused through it, at which temperature it is said to be saturated. Should the temperature from any cause be lowered, the aqueous vapour at once becomes visible in the form of either cloud, dew, rain, snow, or hail. ”

“ This stormy weather occurs most frequently in the torrid zone, where the heat is greatest: the air being more rarefied [Pg 147] there, than in any other part of the globe, is lighter, and consequently, ascends; whilst the air from the north and south, is continually flowing in, to restore the equilibrium.
Caroline. This motion of the air, would produce a regular and constant north wind, to the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere; and a south wind, to those of the southern hemisphere, and continual storms at the equator, where these two adverse winds would meet. ”

“ Such morning condensation is indicative of foul weather. It is, as we have said, the eastern edge of an approaching storm, on, or under which, the sun shines and illumines it. Thus, at night, it shines through a portion at the west, which is situate between the sun and us, making the sky gray: but shines on, or under, a portion in the morning, east of us, but not far enough east to obscure the horizon, and the rays of the rising sun are reflected from it. In either case the red or gray appearance results from the relative situation of the sun and the eastern edge of an approaching storm. ”

“ A. As it comes from a climate colder than our own, its capacity for imbibing vapour is increased when it reaches our island; in consequence of which, it dries the air, dispels the clouds, and promotes evaporation.
Q. Why does wind sometimes bring rain, and sometimes fine weather?
A. If the wind be colder than the clouds, it will condense their vapour into rain: if the wind be warmer than the clouds, it will dissolve them, and cause them to disappear. ”

“ During the entire day this breeze increased, with frequent squalls and a gloomy, lowering sky, and the wiseacres amongst us prognosticated bad weather. Of course it is always safest to prophesy bad weather at sea, because you naturally make up your mind that it is coming and prepare yourself for any emergency ”

“ When the countries of temperate climates suffer under tempests in frequent succession, Polar regions enjoy comparative tranquillity. After the autumn gales have passed, a series of calm weather, attended by severe frosts, frequently succeeds. ”

“ When this is so, it will be found that a storm has passed to the north of us, or a belt of rains is passing north, which may or may not have sufficient southern extension to reach us. When there have been heavy storms at the south in the spring, especially if of snow, the S. W. wind which the trade draws after it, and which comes from the snowy or chilled surface, is exceedingly “raw”—that is, damp and chilly, although not thermometrically very cold. ”

“ Sometimes severe weather from the S., which will not last long, may cause no great fall, because a northerly wind is impending; and at times the barometer may fall with northerly winds and fine weather apparently against the common rules, because continued southerly wind is impending. ”

“ But there are other subordinate and minor influences which are continually taking place in the atmosphere, and which are also calculated to alter the place of this calm belt, and to produce changes in the thermal status of the air which the trade-winds move. These are unusually severe winters or hot summers, remarkable spells of weather, such as long continuous rains or droughts over areas of considerable extent, either within or near the trade-wind belts. It is tremblingly alive to all such influences, and they keep it in continual agitation ”

“ And these high mountains and deep valleys, suggesting that some awful storm at sea had become petrified into colossal waves to stand at rest forever, have been carved out by rain and running water, frost and change of temperature, through the lapse of countless ages. ”

“ Gradually, as the densest portion of the storm cloud reaches us, it darkens; the scud are nearer the earth, and run with more rapidity; the rain falls more heavily and continuously, and by the middle of the day a thick fog has enveloped the earth; the wind is [Pg 109] dying away, and the trade itself, with its southern tendency to fog, has settled near us; the barometer has fallen, the thermometer is up to fifty degrees, the water is running down the hills, the snow is saturated with water and is disappearing under the influence of the fog, the rain, and the warm air. Evening comes ”

“ Dry whirlwinds of moderate size, but sometimes of considerable violence, frequently occur in clear weather when the percentage of humidity is small and when the vertical temperature gradient is unusually pronounced. In this case there may be strong agitation of the air, rendered visible at the earth’s surface by light débris on land, or boiling of the water at sea ”

“ At the latter period they assemble in immense multitudes, particularly on the large rivers and lakes of the thinly inhabited northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America: but when the extremity of the weather threatens to become insupportable, in order to shun the gathering storm, they shape their course high in air, in divided and diminished numbers, in search of milder climates. ”

“ Wind-storms are preceded by a low barometer, with much briefer warning than in the case of rain and snow storms, often occurring within two or three hours after the first instrumental premonition. Temperature rises and humidity increases; cirrus clouds move from west to northwest. ”

“ Our observation of the influence of climate is mostly with regard to physical infirmities. We know the effect of damp weather upon rheumatics, and of the east wind upon gouty subjects, but too little allowance is made for the influence of weather upon the spirits and the conduct of men. We know that a long period of gloomy weather leads to suicides, and we observe that long-continued clouds and rain beget "crossness" and ill-temper, and we are all familiar with the universal exhilaration of sunshine and clear air upon any company of men and women. ”

“ In fact, it is only necessary to observe the effects which have followed the recent wet weather to recognise the fact that rain has a forcing power, the very diminished supply of which at the due season cannot fail to have seriously injurious effects. ”

“ You know that summer and winter weather are different. You ought to be able to see that summer and winter winds are different. The difference in seasons is caused by the respective positions of the northern and southern hemispheres to the sun. The greater the heat, the greater the [Pg 165] atmospheric changes. Hurricanes are great whirls caused by violent changes of the air. ”

“ Remembering, then, the differences in the normal conditions of the seasons and months, and the different characters that the winds, and storms, and clouds, and other phenomena bear in them respectively, let us now look at the signs of foul or fair weather not herein before fully stated, upon which practical reliance may be placed.
In the first place, we must look to the forming condensation. There are many days when the [Pg 368] atmosphere is without visible clouds, but few when it is entirely without condensation. Such days are seen during the dry season in the trade-wind region ”

“ But when the Air grows thick by Degrees, and the Sun, Moon, and Stars shine dimmer and dimmer, then it is like to rain six Hours usually.
RAIN is, properly speaking, a Multitude of small watery Drops, falling from the upper Air at different Seasons. When the upper Regions become cold of a sudden, the watery Clouds are condensed and fall in hasty Showers. ”

“ We all know that hill-tops receive showers which frequently pass over the vales without falling, probably because of the greater proximity of the hills. In a long drought a violent thunderstorm, which soaks the ground, will often be followed by a complete change of weather, as the result of contact established between the earth and the clouds. ”

“ It is observed that mountainous Countries have most Rain, and the Reason seems to be the Winds driving the Clouds against the Rocks and Hills, and thereby compressing them in such a Manner, that they are immediately dissolved, and fall as it were at once. ”