To those who think the weather these days is “exceptional” or “without precedent” etc, I thought would quote from a very interesting book I have here, entitled “James Woodforde, The Diary of a Country Parson, 1758-1802.
Parson Woodforde spent most of his life in the village of Weston in Norfolk. Here are some diary entries:
1783, July 28, This has been the hottest day of this year and I believe the hottest that ever I felt, many say the same.
1789, Nov 7, Very melancholy News on the Papers respecting the Ships wrecked and lives lost at Yarmouth and near it by the very high Wind early in the Morn’ Saturday 31 October.
1782, June 20, The Corn in Weston Field almost all destroyed by the Hail which were as big as Bullets and were 12 Inches deep.
1793, Nov 25, Blackbirds & Thrushes singing this Morn’ in our Garden as if it were Spring, very mild.
1794, Jan 25, The Barometer about 4 o’clock this Afternoon was down to 28—4, the lowest I ever remembered. Wind so high it greatly alarmed us. Part of my Barn uncovered by it, Thatch blown off, Many Tiles from my House blown down &c.
1794, July 7, Exceedingly hot indeed this Morning, Therm. 102.
1795, Jan. 25, The Frost this Morning more severe than Yesterday. It froze last Night the Chamber Pots above Stairs. Thermometer in the Study down to No. 40 this Morn.
1795, Feb. 4, Extreme cold this morning with cutting wind, and much Snow besides. Both thermometer and Barometer very low. Many birds have been found dead, and the Rooks and Crows so tame that they come up to the Kitchen door where I feed my poultry.
1799, Feb. 3, Snow all last Night and continued snowing all the whoe Day with a good deal of Wind which have drifted so deep as to make every road impassable – in many roads 15 feet deep.
1801, Jan. 31, Fine mild weather for the Season, thank God for it.
1801, Feb. 5, Very fine Weather indeed for the Season. Bees quite brisk. Crocus’s & Snow Drops out in full blossom. Gooseberry Trees coming into leaf very fast indeed.
Strange weather? We've always had it!
No mention of climate change or CO2 in those days!
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Topic: Putting things in perspective (Read 410 times)