Recent Weather in North America

Abstract

THE ice-storm, as we call it, which we have lately experienced, seems to call for a permanent record. It began at about 4 p.m. on the 7th inst., and until 12 noon of the following day there was a constant drizzle or rain, the thermometer being a few degrees below the freezing-point. The amount of the rainfall at the surface of the ground was 1.10 inches. As the rain fell upon the trees it soon formed a coating of ice upon every exposed branch and twig, and this grew thicker and heavier until saplings were bent to the ground and large branches were broken from many trees over a wide area of country. The wind blowing gently from the north, the coating of ice was much thicker on that side of each twig or branch. Fences were decorated with long icicles hanging at a decided angle towards the south. Telegraph wires were so heavily loaded that many fell, and some of them, besides the coating of ice, had a most curious decoration in the shape of little icicles hanging about two inches apart, some of them appearing horizontal, and some (it is said) actually pointing upwards. The storm is reported as having extended over an area of some 20,000 square miles. It was not immediately fallowed by a thaw, which might have relieved the trees of their load; a gentle precipitation, partly of snow and partly of sleet, took place at intervals from 5 p.m. on the 8th till early in the morning of the 10th, the temperature remaining below-freezing. The view on the 10th, when the clouds broke away and the sun shone on the trees, was beautiful beyond description, but the most remarkable effect was that produced by the moonlight on the evening of that day.