Jul 11 1826 The Weather - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Jul 11 1826 The Weather

The Times, Tuesday, Jul 11, 1826; pg. 3; Issue 13016; col B

                                   THE WEATHER.
                                      --------------
                            (From the Carlisle Journal.)

On Wednesday last we experienced as awful and sudden a change of weather as, we
believe, has ever been witnessed in this country. During the forenoon nothing
disturbed the serenity of the azure sky; the whole heavens seemed, with very
little exception, like another of those glad skies which are characteristic of
the Italian climate. That placid serenity of aspect which was portrayed from
verge to verge of the horizon, and which, at almost any other time, would be a
welcome picture to the inhabitants of this variable climate, was on Wednesday
morning regarded as an affliction, sent by the hands of Providence as an
addition to the troubles which encompassed us. About half-past one p.m.,
however, the appearance of the skies began suddenly to change, from a calm,
incidental to a troubled athmosphere, to a complete storm among the etherial
regions. Such a picture as was beheld in the heavens about two o'clock has been
very rarely, if ever, witnessed before. Darkness prevailed to an extent almost
unknown in the height of summer. A furious whirlwind followed, which for a space
of above five minutes drove the dust from one part to another with such
velocity, that, but for the houses which surrounded us, it would rather resemble
an Arabian whirlwind than an English gale. The effects of the wind were truly
terrific - scarcely a creature was to be seen in the streets, or if seen, then
but indistinctly. The storm now raged at its height; hail and rain came down in
furious torrents; the heavens and the earth appeared associating together;
hail-stones fell in some places 2½ inches in circumference; and this dreadful
storm continued with unabated fury, amidst peals of thunder, which followed one
another without intermission, for the space of 40 minutes. The elctric fluid
shot in all directions; and the anger of the heavens, as if, from their too
great rage, they became exhausted, gradually subsided, and gave way for genial
showers, which continued for nearly two hours longer. Amidst these terrific
battles of the elements, we rejoice to hear that, contrary to our expectations,
very little comparative injury has been inflicted. The crops in many places,
however, have been beaten down, but not so as to cause very much injury. Dr.
LOWRY, of High Crosby, who had a flock of sheep on his grounds, found a ram and
two ewes struck dead. A brood of duck as Parkbroom, too, fell victims to the
fiery visitor. At the Knells, the house of Mr. John DIXON, ten ot twelve panes
of glass were broken; and at a farm-house at High Knells, the property of John
FORSTER, Esq., of Newtown, twenty-four panes out of thirty-five were broken. The
ice that fell about the neighbourhood and at Crosby was, in many instances,
three inches in circumference. A carpenter, who was at the latter place,
declared that he could have gathered a hoop of them. They remained on the
ground, notwithstanding the warmth of the weather, until some time on Thursday.
The height of the thermometer previously to the storm wavered about 82. Since
that period it has fallen to 72. After writing the above, we learn that the rain
has fallen but partially. Between High Hesket and Plumpton scarcely any rain has
fallen during the week; and a little to the right of those places the crops are
still scorching, and are in sad want of nourishment, they not having been
visited by rain for a long time past. About this city, the sudden change which
the rain has occasioned in the crops is surprising.