DIRECTIOX OF WIND IX LOCAL STORMS. 21^^ 



storm, in one drift, bv actual measurement, there wei-e 

 over twentv-five cords. Upon the outer edge of the storm 

 where the outward wind was strong, thete was only rain, 

 and a mile from the centre there was only wind, which 

 extended at least from five to eight miles away, how 

 much forther I cannot say. The section over which the 

 hail fell was left without a particle of verdure. 

 No green leaves could be found. It presented a state of 

 devastation as though the trees had all been stripped and 

 the earth plowed and then pounded down. During the 

 ensuing ■\\'eek there were several storms similar in their 

 formation, and all accompanied with vivid lightning, 

 heavy thunder, hail and rain, but of much less severity 

 than the one described. 



After this peculiar series of storms there were no 

 marked instances of storms of this character until 1S72. 

 August 14th, of that year the town of Sheffield, Vt., was 

 visited by a local storm of great severity. From the op- 

 pressive heat and calm of the morning, clouds rapidlv 

 formed, and hanging stationary overhead, the storm be- 

 tween 9 and 10, A. >L, burst upon the place. This storm 

 was of much greater extent, covering a section of country 

 five or six miles in diameter. These clouds continued to 

 send down their deluge of rain and hail for thi'ee hours. 

 Small brooks were changed to streams ten or twelve feet 

 deep. The bridges were all swept away. The light- 

 ning struck several times, and several farms had fields 

 of acres in extent washed away, and other land was 

 covered by the debris to the depth of six or eight feet. 

 In the central part of the storm the wind blew in gusts 

 from all points of the compass, and outside of the storm 

 the wind first set towards the cloud from all points, 

 then from it, as before described, seeming very cool. 

 During the afternoon showers spread about the country 



