256 The Recent Cloud-burst on the Yorkshire Wolds. 



most intense form — many fields, some prepared for turnips, 

 were completely swept of soil ; deep ruts were formed in all 

 directions, and the combined force of water dashed down the 

 dale side through a plantation, excavating enormous chasms. 

 The reason for these, independent of the slope of the ground, 

 seemed to be that the roots of the trees bared of soil still formed 

 a temporary barrier to the rush of water, and caused it to leap 

 up and then dash down with renewed force in the form of a 

 cataract, excavating a deep hole at the foot. One of these 

 holes measured 23 feet in. depth. This was the flood which, 

 like a wall of water, descended Cowlam Dale, and caused the 

 great damage at Driffield, six miles away. 



May 2ist — The second storm, on the following morning, 

 passed over Malton and the Pickering Vale on both sides, 

 causing floods at Ellerburn, Thornton, Allerston and elsewhere 

 on the north, and great damage to the slopes of the Wolds on 

 the south. East Heslerton suffered most. Here, on Grange 

 Farm, numerous channels were excavated on the brow of the 

 hill, one being 13 feet deep and 23 feet wide, and chalk debris 

 scattered over the fields below, completely obliterating what 

 little soil was left. 



There have been previous storms, but none to equal the 

 above. The nearest approach was the great cloud-burst on 

 Sunday, July 3rd, 1892.* One portion broke over Huggate, 

 and rushed down as a mighty river four miles to Wetwang — 

 the other burst over the hill sides above Langtoft, and com- 

 pletely flooded that unfortunate village. Two years later the 

 hills between Canada and Towthorpe were the scene of a 

 tremendous downpour, the water rushing down York Dale to 

 Timber Station, a foot in depth. On this occasion three 

 water-spouts were observed advancing from the sea to Tow- 

 thorpe. This partly explains the origin of the phenomena 

 which we have been considering. The writer has more than 

 once witnessed the meeting of two heavy rain-clouds, one from 

 the sea on the south-east, and the other from the south-west. 

 Each probably contained as much moisture as it could hold. 

 On intermingling the united cloud sailed away to the high 

 ground, and being unable to support the weight of water, 

 emptied itself in a perfect deluge. 



* See illustrated paper by the present writer in Trans. Hull Scien. and 

 Pield Nat. Club, Vol. I., pt. 4, for 1901, p. 225. 



Naturalist 



