Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/The Weather of March, 1878

by William Jerome Harrison

Meteorology of the Midlands.

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The Weather of March, 1878.

 

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BY W. J. Harrison, F.G.S.

 

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Want of space compels the compression of the monthly meteorological article, so that, instead of printing the remarks from each station in full, we must be content with a general summary. Notwithstanding this, we trust that every observer will continue to favour us with as many details as possible, especially of any remarkable occurrences, and of those facts in relation to animal and vegetable life which impart to meteorology much meaning and interest. We have quoted the references by our observers to the now famous "Eurydice squall” of the 24th of March in a special note,

March opened with charming and genial weather, "Coming in like a lamb," but it left us with a very ill grace, "Going out like a lion," thus literally reversing the old proverb. Temperature rose to 61° at Sedgley, on the 7th; and to 60° at Belvoir Castle (7th,) Worksop (1st,) and Dudley (1st.) The nights were very cold from the 22nd to the end of the month. the Cheltenham return of 12.2° (and on the grass 8.5°) on the night of the 25th, being very remarkable, Rainfall was decidedly below the average, and in most places the heavy land was so hard and dry that sowing was rendered impossible. Frequent falls of snow were experienced in the last week, those of the 27th and 28th covering the ground to a depth of 4in, or 6in. At Much Wenlock buttercups were in blossom on the 3rd, and the Wood Anemone on the 6th; Coltsfoot, Daffodil, and Palm, near Hereford, on the 7th. The Chiffchaff was heard at Kibworth on the 21st, and the small Bat seen flying near Stroud on the evening of the 3rd. The remarkable squall of the 24th is noticed separately. The "Eurydice" Squall.—Sunday, March 24th, 1878, will long be remembered as the date of the capsizing of H.M.S. Eurydice, with loss of about 300 lives, at four p.m., off Dunnose, on the east side of the Isle of Wight. The violent but brief atmospheric disturbance which was the cause of this catastrophe appears to have advanced from the N.W., and reached the north of England about ten a.m. Taking a south-easterly course, snow began to fall at Leicester about 1:45, and was followed by a strong gusty wind, but in an hour all was over. The barometer here fell but little, from 29.599 at nine a.m., to 29.494 at 12:45, and 29.477 at nine p.m. The next morning showed a marked recovery—23.731. The following interesting notes will show that the squall was of a more severe character in the West Midlands. The situation of the Eurydice—but a short distance to the S.E. of high cliffs, behind which chalk downs rise to a height of 800 or 900 feet, will sufficiently explain the way in which the squall took the vessel by surprise. The squall advancing from the N. W., the vessel was screened from it until it burst down the steep slope of the land in full fury.

The following notes on the weather of March 24th, are from observers whose names will be found in the Meteorological Returns for March, in Connection with their respective stations:—Brampton S. Thomas, (Chesterfield.)—Lightning, with snow. Obleton.—A sudden dense storm of snow, covering the ground inches deep, with a violent wind. Tean Vicarage. (Cheadle.)—The snow squall which swept across England from N. to S., reached Wean about noon, and cleared off about 12 45. Cheltenham.—A terrible snow storm, of short duration, burst over here at 2 p.m. Stroud.—Thunder and lightning, with violent wind, accompanying a snow storm. Lenton Vicarage, (Shrewsbury.)—Violent storm at noon; darkness and heavy snow, More Rectory, (Bishop's Castle.)—The snow storm or cyclone was very violent here about noon, and was followed by a display of Aurora Borealis at night, Castle Street, (Bishop's Castle.)—The squall struck here with one terrific gust at 12 noon. Stokesay.—A severe snow storm with strong N.W. wind at 12 noon: lasted about an hour. Bar, 29.431 at 12¼; Temp. 35.5. Worcester.—The storm burst on us very suddenly from the N.W. at 1240, The barometer only fell two-tenths of an inch from 9 a.m., and quickly recovered, Tamworth.—The storm struck here about 1 p.m. with the contrast in less than two minutes from bright sunshine to a perfect hurricane of wind, dust, and snow so thick and dense that nothing could be seen twenty yards off, was most extraordinary. It was all over and bright sunshine in about ten minutes. Bar, at 9 a.m. 29.84, at 1 p.m., 29.44. Stoney Middleton.—Snowstorm 12 to 12 30, then clear till 6 p.m. Coston.—Rapid fall of Bar. Snow from 1.30 to 6.30 with squalls of wind.

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