TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTION'S. 33 



On the Helm Wind of Crossfcll. Bij the Rev. J. Watson. 



Helm Wind is a local name of uncertain origin, but generally sup- 

 posed to be derived from the cloud that, like a cap or helmet, is often 

 seen on the tops of the mountains. It is specially applied to a very violent 

 wind, blowing frequently from some easterly point of the compass, but 

 mostly due east, at the west side of the mountains known by the name 

 of the Crossfell range, and confined both in length and breadth to the 

 space contained between the Helm and Helm Bar, hereafter described. 

 Along the top ridge of the mountains, and extending from three or 

 four to sixteen or eighteen miles each way, north and south, from the 

 highest point, is often seen a large long roll of clouds ; the western 

 front clearly defined and quite separated from any other cloud on that 

 side ; it is at times above the mountain, sometimes rests on its toji, but 

 most frequently descends a considerable way down its side ; this is called 

 the Helm. In opposition to this, and at a variable distance towards 

 the west, is another cloud v.'ith its eastern edge as clearly defined as 

 the Helm, and at the same height : this is called the Bar ov Burr; the 

 space between the Helm and the Bar is the limit of the wind. The 

 distance between the Helm and Bar varies as the Bar advances or 

 recedes from the Helm; this is sometimes not more than half a mile, 

 sometimes three or four miles, and occasionally the Bar seems to 

 coincide with the horizon, or it disperses and there is no Bar, and then 

 there is a general east \vind extending over all the country westward. 

 However violent the wind be between the Helm and the Bar, it extends 

 no farther ; on the west side of the Bar there is either no wind or it 

 blows in a contrary direction, that is, from the west, or from various 

 points in sudden and strong gusts, when the Bar advances so far as to 

 unite with the Helm ; if the Bar disperses, the wind ceases. Neither the 

 Ilelm nor Bar are separate or detached clouds, but may be rather said 

 to be the bold, clearly defined fronts of bodies of clouds extending east- 

 ward behind the Helm, and westward from the Bar. The clouds forming 

 the Helm and Bar cannot perhaps strictly be said to be parallel ; the 

 ope^' space between them may rather be called a very flat ellipse, 

 in which the transverse diameter varies from eight or ten to twenty-five 

 or thirty miles, and the conjugate from half a mile to four or five miles : 

 they appear always united at the ends. 



This wind is very irregular, but most frequent from the end of Sep- 

 tember to the month of May; it seldom occurs in the summer months ; 

 there was one this year, 1838, on the 2nd of July, and there have been 

 more in the last two years than in the preceding six. Sometimes, 

 when the atmosphere is quite settled, not a breath of wind stirring, 

 and hardly a cloud to be seen, a small but well-known cloud appears 

 on the summit, extends itself to the north and south — the " Helm is 

 on," and in a few minutes blowing furiously, suflScient to break trees, 

 overthrow stacks of grain, throw a person from his horse, or overturn 

 a horse and cart. The Helm at times seems violently agitated, and on 

 ascending the fell and entering it there is little wind, and this some- 

 times not in the direction of the M'ind below : one may, in fact, be in 



VOL. VII. 1838. D 



