THE METEOROLOGY OF EDINBURGH. 



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Phenomenon. 



Gale and lightning 



Snow and frost 



Thunderstorm 



Thunderstorm 



Comet 



Tides 

 High tides 



Protracted Snow- 

 storm 



High Tide 

 Snow and Frost 



REMAKES. 



December 20. After a rapid thaw and change of wind, at half past 10 

 p.m., with a strong south-westerly gale, and heavy showers of rain, there 

 occurred a great deal of lightning. It continued with little intermission for 

 several hours. No thunder was heard. 



April 7 and 8. Intense frost, with showers of hail and snow, and a 

 strong gale from N.W., continued for these two days. The mercury in the 

 thermometer was several times at 24°, and once as low as 20°, or 12° below 

 the freezing point. Vegetation had been proceeding rapidly, and has thus 

 met with a very severe check. 



On the afternoon of the 8th June, a thunder-cloud passed over the south 

 side of the city of Edinburgh, makingfrequent discharges of electric matter 

 into the earth. A house situated in Fountainbridge Street, at the head of 

 the Lothian Road, unfortunately became the conductor of one of these 

 discharges. The fluid penetrated one of the chimneys shattering many 

 large stones, and projecting some of them violently to a distance. The 

 fluid passed through several apartments in the house, conducted chiefly by 

 the bell wires, which it twisted, melted, and oxidated in its progress. The 

 gilding on a picture-frame was partly converted into a purple oxide ; and 

 a large oil-painting was completely disfigured, the oil and colours having 

 undergone chemical changes. A maid-servant was slightly struck by the 

 fluid, as appeared from arborescent marks on one of her shoulders, and at 

 the same time she was severely scorched by her clothes catching fire. 



June 25. This morning, another thunder cloud passed in the vicinity 

 of this city, making very frequent discharges. A labouring man, going to 

 his work at Craigleith quarry, a little before 6 o'clock, was suddenly and 

 forcibly thrown to the ground, where he lay stunned for some time. 



August 30. A faint, nebulous comet was seen this evening, which con- 

 tinued to grow in brightness till about November 8, when it was of great 

 magnitude and brilliancy. 



October 31. Exceptionally high tide at Leith ; much damage done. 



On the night between Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd of November 

 the waters of the North Sea rose to a very unusual height. The rise 

 exceeded 20 feet in the Firth of Forth. 



March 19. Early on the morning of the 19th a sudden and heavy fall 

 of snow took place. In about three hours it lay near a foot thick all 

 around Edinburgh. All kinds of country labour were therefore com- 

 pletely stopped. 



March 21. A strong gale from N.E., with continued snow, has rendered 

 most of the roads in this neighbourhood impassable. In many places the 

 snow, where drifted, lies 8 feet deep on the roads, hiding hedges and walls 

 from the view. The mail-coaches could no longer make their way, even 

 with six horses. In the valleys about Arthur's Seat hills, the snow, in 

 some hollows, is from 15 to 20 feet deep. 



March 22. The London mail came into and left town this day on horse- 

 back, the roads being so blocked up by snow as to be totally impassable to 

 coaches. 



March 23. The snow ceased ; but this evening an intense frost set in, 

 the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer falling to 23°, or 9° below freezing 

 point. 



March 26. The severe frost still continues, the mercury at 8 this morn- 

 ing standing at 24°, and having been observed, more early, as low as 21°, 

 or 11° below freezing. 



" Even now (27th March) all the lakes and pools are thickly frozen over, 

 and to see boys skating on the North Loch ditches, on Good Friday, is 

 perhaps rather a novelty." — Neill. 



October 21. Very high tide at Leith. Streets inundated. 



December 10. Heavy fall of snow, followed by intense cold. On the 

 12th, in the evening, the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer stood at 

 13J°, or 18|° below the freezing point. 



