{"id":264574,"date":"2023-06-29T20:42:54","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T18:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=264574"},"modified":"2023-06-29T20:42:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T18:42:58","slug":"a-yeomans-diary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=264574","title":{"rendered":"A Yeoman\u2019s Diary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Climate Scepticism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0MARK HODGSON<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-industrial climate chaos<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are regularly told that it is vitally important to keep global temperatures within 1.5C (it used to be 2C, but apparently that\u2019s no good now) of \u201cpre-industrial\u201d levels. The problem is that (so far as I am aware) \u201cpre-industrial\u201d isn\u2019t formally defined in any of the climate change treaties arising out of the UN COP process. There is quite a lot of vague talk about it perhaps covering the period 1850-1900, though early in 2017 an attempt was made to suggest an appropriate definition, with a view to being more specific. The Climate Lab Book website then published an article<\/a> which noted the invention of an efficient steam engine by James Watt in 1784, and suggested that 1720-1800 would be a better baseline period for \u201cpre-industrial\u201d purposes. Before 1720, they argue, there was less solar activity than today, but more volcanic eruptions. The early 1800s were also cooled by considerable volcanic activity. Thus 1720-1800 is about right because natural factors affecting the climate were at similar levels to today, and this is the period before the industrial revolution took off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac Fletcher<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By happy coincidence, this period substantially overlaps with the life of Isaac Fletcher (1714-1781), who lived at Mosser in Cumberland and who, most helpfully, kept a diary for the quarter of a century before his death (with only two gaps of any substance, between July 1769 and September 1770 and from February to October 1780). It has been published by the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, and is available for all to read. Fortunately, both as a yeoman farmer (to whom the weather was very important) and as a former schoolmaster and proud owner of a barometer, he was keenly interested in the weather. He makes reference to it on a regular basis throughout the period covered by his diaries. And so we have a detailed record of the weather for one part of northern England on an almost daily basis for a significant part of the period judged by some to represent the hallowed pre-industrial era with which we must compare modern temperatures and climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the diary does have limitations \u2013 Isaac didn\u2019t have a Stevenson screen containing modern meteorological instruments. And so his diary can\u2019t tell us things like wind speeds, how much rain fell, nor what the maximum and minimum temperature was on any given day. Nevertheless, subjective though his observations may have been, they shine a light on the weather in north west Cumberland during a significant quarter century. Let\u2019s see what they reveal. I\u2019ll take a detailed look at 1756, before offering more general comments, picking out some illustrations of extreme weather. This isn\u2019t cherry-picking, as 1756 demonstrates. The weather throughout this period was very variable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1756<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month started with \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d, but by the fourth it was stormy with \u201ca flood of rain<\/em>\u201d. The following day saw \u201cvery wet weather<\/em>\u201d with high winds. The tenth saw \u201cstormy weather & a flood<\/em>\u201d. Rain and wind continued for the next two days, then it turned colder for a couple of days with some snow and sleet. By the 15th<\/sup> Isaac recorded that the tops of the hills were covered with snow. It continued to be cold until the 18th<\/sup> when the wind turned to the south, but by the 19th<\/sup> there was another \u201cheavy storm of wind & rain<\/em>\u201d, which continued on the following day. The 21st<\/sup> must have been pretty grim: \u201cDirty weather and a strong south west wind<\/em>.\u201d The weather seems to have continued wet and windy until it dried up during the afternoon of the 25th<\/sup> after a very wet morning, then to Isaac\u2019s relief things calmed down for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

February<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month started cold and bright, with frosts and by the fourth it was very cold with snow showers. Then three days of gales with some rain, followed by a brief period of calm then more gales. The 12th<\/sup> saw another storm. More gales followed with heavy rain overnight on the 15th<\/sup>. Gales again on the 16th<\/sup> then cold by the 17th<\/sup>, becoming very cold on the 18th<\/sup> with the mountain tops again covered in snow. Cold again on the 19th<\/sup> before turning milder with a period of \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d, before very wet and stormy weather returned on the 28th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A benign start to the month before the 4th<\/sup> saw \u201cwet dirty weather<\/em>\u201d, followed by two days of rain, then on the 7th<\/sup> \u201cstormy weather & a hard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. The following day saw more \u201cvery wet dirty weather<\/em>\u201d, but things improved on the 9th<\/sup>, and he started ploughing. It turned out to be a good decision (did his barometer help him to anticipate the weather?) because for the next week the weather was benign, and he carried on ploughing. By the 19th<\/sup> it was once again very cold and across the Solway he could see \u201cthe Scotch mountains covered with snow<\/em>\u201d. It carried on being cold and frosty with snow on the 22nd<\/sup>. The 23rd<\/sup> continued cold and the ground was \u201ccovered thick with snow<\/em>\u201d, followed by a day of frost then another very cold day with snow. The month ended a little milder, but wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

April<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the month began, there was still \u201can abundance of snow on the mountains<\/em>\u201d. But down in the valley it was foggy with some rain for the first few days. By the 11th<\/sup> it was cold again, with hail showers and the wind coming out of the east. A brief milder spell was followed on the 16th<\/sup> with more cold weather and snow on the mountains. The wind remained in the east until the 23rd<\/sup>, when it came from the west, and this brought more rain, and stormy weather on the 24th<\/sup>, though there was still snow on the hills. Even at the end of April, winter was reluctant to concede defeat. On the 29th<\/sup> there was a very severe frost and \u201cabundance of snow on hills<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May started as April ended. \u201cCold weather; frost & snow<\/em>\u201d on the second. By the 5th<\/sup> the wind was still from the north, bringing \u201cwet snowy weather; abundance of snow upon the fells.<\/em>\u201d The following day saw \u201csnow & rain inclinable to frost<\/em>\u201d before the temperatures finally relented, not that the weather was kind, as although it was warmer, it rained a lot. As late as 11th<\/sup> May Isaac was still commenting about the snow on Skiddaw, Grasmoor, etc. Finally it turned warm on the 14th<\/sup> and at last on the 15th<\/sup> Isaac enjoyed \u201cvery warm pleasant weather<\/em>\u201d. By the 18th<\/sup>, not only was the weather fine, but Isaac was describing it as \u201chot\u201d<\/em>. Ten decent days followed, but by the end of the month it was again cold \u2013 \u201cthick<\/em>\u201d rainy weather on the 26th<\/sup>, and cold for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as May ended cold, so June started, albeit it was \u201cpretty sunny<\/em>\u201d on the 2nd<\/sup>. Showers followed before it turned hot and thundery on the 5th<\/sup>. Then on the 6th<\/sup> it was cold again. A week of showers followed, before it turned stormy on the 13th<\/sup>. The 14th<\/sup> was cold and the 15th<\/sup> saw a \u201chard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. Remember, this is June \u2013 just a few days before the summer solstice. By the 17th<\/sup> it was thundery, then it turned showery. On the 20th<\/sup> his diary contains a cryptic comment: \u201cLoss upwards of \u00a32,000 by a storm of hail in the counties of Kent & Essex (July last)<\/em>\u201d. Solstice day itself saw \u201ccold weather & pretty strong gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. The following day saw \u201cfine warm weather<\/em>\u201d, before turning hot and thundery on the 24th<\/sup>, yet the 25th<\/sup> saw \u201cwet dirty weather<\/em>\u201d. Isaac was at Whitehaven on that day, and it appears he intended to go out to sea, but he couldn\u2019t, due to the weather. He was at Whitehaven for the rest of the month, failing to get to sea due to contrary winds and, on the 30th<\/sup>, fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July saw Isaac on his travels, for on the first he finally got to sea, the wind being \u201cfair but very moderate<\/em>\u201d. It stayed that way on the 2nd<\/sup> but blew up on the 3rd<\/sup>. Isaac suffered from sea sickness \u201call the day, but never got to heaving<\/em>\u201d. On the 4th<\/sup>, though, the ship was becalmed off Dublin Bay. Fine sailing weather followed, with a good breeze, until they were again becalmed on the afternoon of the 7th<\/sup>. On the 8th<\/sup> he landed at Chepstow, and was shocked by the heat of the south. On the 9th<\/sup> \u2013 \u201cExtreem [sic] hot weather and almost burned with the scorching heat of the sun<\/em>\u201d. On the 12th<\/sup>, Isaac was still reporting \u201cvery hot weather<\/em>\u201d, and on the following day he writes of \u201cvery hot sultry weather<\/em>\u201d. On the 15th<\/sup> it was still \u201cHot weather, sultry & little wind<\/em>\u201d. Very warm weather on the 17th<\/sup>, followed by very hot weather on the 18th<\/sup>. Hot weather on the 19th<\/sup> and on the 20th<\/sup> it was very hot with rain and thunder in the afternoon. Very fine weather on the 21st<\/sup> was followed by thunder on the 22nd<\/sup>. Showers and warm weather followed, but on the 27th<\/sup> (at Bath) it was hot. Pleasant warm weather on the 28th<\/sup> was followed on the 29th<\/sup> by some rain, and it was sultry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beginning of August saw Isaac still in Bath, and he reported rainy weather. On the 2nd<\/sup> he encountered showers at Bristol. On the 4th<\/sup> he was back on board a ship, headed for home, though progress was slow. On the 5th<\/sup>, the boat was still in the river Wye, and it was hot. On the 6th<\/sup> it was very hot. Journeys were leisurely, perhaps because Isaac was using a trading ship to take him \u2013 and some cargo \u2013 home. He seems to have been at Chepstow for a while, and on the 8th<\/sup> he went to see the ruins of Tintern Abbey, where it was very hot. On the 9th<\/sup> it was warm and on the 10th<\/sup>, having loaded his cargo, he was at sea. Becalmed on the 12th<\/sup>, with little wind on the 13th<\/sup>, the wind \u201csprang up\u201d on the 14th<\/sup>. On the 16th<\/sup>, in Dublin, it was wet. By the 19th<\/sup> he was back at Whitehaven, and he was home on the 21st<\/sup>, where he was greeted by cloudy weather, and very little wind. He was pleased with his corn, which \u201clooks well for a good crop<\/em>\u201d. It was warm on the 22nd<\/sup> and showery on the 23rd<\/sup> and 24th<\/sup>, warm again on the 25th<\/sup> and 26th<\/sup>. The weather continued fine and warm, with occasional showers, for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the first of the month, Isaac\u2019s meadows looked very well, and the weather was fine. The following day was warm, but by the 3rd<\/sup> it was moist and foggy with some rain. The 5th<\/sup> was showery, the 6th<\/sup> was fine, and the 7th<\/sup> was hot with a southerly wind. The 9th<\/sup> was fine, but the 10th<\/sup> was wet in the morning, and the wind had moved to the north. The next day was again fine, and the wind was now out of the west. The weather continued for days in a settled pattern \u2013 the 12th<\/sup> saw \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d and was cloudy and the following day was the same, but with the addition of some showers. The 14th<\/sup> was cloudy with some rain, but the 15th<\/sup> was fine, with sunshine in the afternoon. The 17th<\/sup> was fine too, but by the 18th<\/sup> the weather was cold and cloudy. Importantly the 19th<\/sup> was fine harvesting weather (Isaac was still finishing the hay mow), and it stayed that way for the best part of a week, before it became very rainy on the afternoon of the 25th<\/sup>. It continued raining on the 26th<\/sup>, but was fine on the 27th<\/sup>, and the weather on the 29th<\/sup> was \u201cmoderate<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month began with showery rain, turning heavy on the afternoon of the 2nd<\/sup>. The following day saw the advent of stormy weather with the wind blowing hard. The 5th<\/sup> was showery, and the 6th<\/sup> was showery, but also cold. Autumn had definitely arrived, for the 7th<\/sup> saw a violent storm of wind from the west from noon until 4pm. \u201cIt tore up abundance of large trees by the roots, uncovered many houses, & did abundance of damage all over the country<\/em>\u201d. The next day it was still \u201cblowing pretty strong<\/em>\u201d with showers of hail and rain, with a cold northerly wind. Isaac was \u201crighting the corn<\/em>\u201d for \u201cthere was not one shock standing in all the neighbourhood<\/em>\u201d. By the following day the wind (\u201ca very great wind\u201d<\/em>) was from the south, and it was very wet. Then things settled down briefly, the 10th<\/sup> merely being \u201ccloudy but moderate weather with some rain<\/em>\u201d. But the 11th<\/sup> was very wet, and the 12th<\/sup> saw \u201cgreat showers of rain<\/em>\u201d. The 13th<\/sup> was very cold with a strong west wind and showers, and the weather was causing problems with the corn in the fields still wet. Worse was to come, with work on the 14th<\/sup> being deferred due to it being \u201cso very wet<\/em>\u201d, with \u201ca great flood in the afternoon<\/em>\u201d. Then it calmed down again, the 15th<\/sup> & 16th<\/sup> seeing \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d with some showers. Luckily this continued, and on the 19th<\/sup>, perhaps against the odds, Isaac \u201cgot in two cart loads of oats in the afternoon<\/em>\u201d. The 20th<\/sup> was wet in the morning, but on the 21st<\/sup> Isaac finally got the corn in. The 22nd<\/sup> saw \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d and the 23rd<\/sup> was fine, and the 24th<\/sup> was a moderate cloudy day. By the 26th<\/sup> wind was strong from the east and it had turned very cold. The following day was fine, but still cold, and the month closed out with more \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November started as October ended, but by the 5th<\/sup> it was very cold and rainy, and the 6th<\/sup> \u201cblew very fresh<\/em>\u201d with a cold north wind. The 7th<\/sup> saw a very hard frost, and the wind was still from the north. And so it continued \u2013 cold and frosty \u2013 though by the 10th<\/sup> the wind was coming out of the east. The hard frosts continued, though the 13th<\/sup> was at least fine. Then it turned milder but wetter, before the return of an easterly wind and frost on the 18th<\/sup>, with a hard frost on the 19th<\/sup>. By the 21st<\/sup>, it wasn\u2019t just cold, there were now snow showers. The 22nd<\/sup> was very cold, with a hard frost and the earth covered with snow. More sharp frosts followed on the 23rd<\/sup> and the 24th<\/sup>, and another frost occurred on the 25th<\/sup>, before a very rainy day on the 26th<\/sup>. Sharp frost again on the 27th<\/sup> was followed by fog and wet weather for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

December<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The month commenced gently, with \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d and some rain, but by the 5th<\/sup> it was cold and snowing, followed by two days of frost and hard frost. A period of moderate weather followed, with rain on the 14th<\/sup>, and a very wet night on the 15th<\/sup>. It was very stormy on the 17th<\/sup> and wet on the 18th<\/sup>, showery on the 19th<\/sup>, but stormy weather returned on the 20th<\/sup>, with \u201ca hard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. A few days of moderate weather followed before it turned frosty on Christmas Eve. It remained frosty for most of the rest of the month, and ended with \u201cmoderate weather<\/em>\u201d. Isaac uses the phrase a lot \u2013 it seems to me that it represents weather that isn\u2019t particularly worthy of comment, i.e. not extreme in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we classify the weather in 1756? A very long and cold winter, not really ending completely until May, and even June saw some atrocious weather. The summer was short but hot (very hot at times \u2013 oh for a thermometer). The autumn was stormy and wet with flooding, and the year closed out cold and frosty. Is that any less \u201cchaotic\u201d, any less \u201cextreme\u201d, any \u201cbetter\u201d than the weather we are experiencing here today? It\u2019s difficult to say with certainty, since Isaac\u2019s diaries contain subjective assessments, and lack hard data. However, my take from reading the diaries is that things are no more extreme or wose now than they were then \u2013 possibly the reverse is true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1757 \u2013 1781<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space doesn\u2019t permit an almost daily recital of the weather for the years 1757-1781, so I confine myself to matters particularly worthy of mention. Having said that, there are rather more of them than I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1757<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January and February contain numerous references to stormy weather, but a few are particularly worthy of note, such as those for 17th<\/sup> \u2013 19th<\/sup> January. The 17th<\/sup> saw \u201ca great snow and a hard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d while the 18th<\/sup> was more problematic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the evening & night a very hard gale of wind from the West & WSW with a flood of rain, the melting of the snow which was pretty thick swelled the rivulets and made them overflow in many places<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day was costly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hard gale of wind; westerly. Mercury 28.3<\/em> [Isaac did love his barometer]. The Nicholas, snow,<\/em> [a type of boat] from Jamaica, Captain Robert Ginins, was put into Whitehaven by stress of weather being too late in the tide, came aground a little within the old quay end & between 11 & 12 this night beat up with the sea and was entirely lost\u2026.A Scotch brig at same time got into the new quay & was saved that tide but sunk the next<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March also saw stormy weather \u2013 on the 15th<\/sup> \u201cA great storm of wind & snow mixt with rain\u201d.<\/em> Six days later there was a great flood of rain, then the 23rd<\/sup> was terrible:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A violent storm of wind & rain from the WSW which continued about 24 hours. It blew very hard most of the time with some loud claps of thunder about 2 in the morning & continued lightning most of the night. Very considerable damage is done in many places unroofing of houses & some blown down. Conciderable [sic] damage done to the shipping: a Liverpool guinea man, but last from the West Indies, lost upon the coast near Harrington back. All the hands lost but one boy:all found viz 11 & all buried at Harrington church<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two days later there was a great quantity of snow, and as late as 12th<\/sup> April there was still a great abundance of snow on the hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet late in June and through July the diary entries contain numerous references to hot, very hot and even \u201cextreem<\/em>\u201d [sic] hot weather. But then, when getting in the harvest, on 26th<\/sup> August, in the afternoon, there was a great storm of wind and rain and a great flood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1758<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April commenced cold with snow, which persisted. 16th<\/sup> April saw \u201cA very great storm of snow from the SW which continued all the day. Very deep & great drufts<\/em> [sic] & a hard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer seems to have been fine, dry and hot, yet on 27th<\/sup> July Isaac recorded \u201cA very great flood last night<\/em>\u201d. It was causing him problems on the 29th<\/sup> \u2013 \u201cthe flood had damaged some of the hay with mudd<\/em>\u201d. [sic].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another flood on the 8th<\/sup> October. Isaac, stalwart Quaker that he was, attended a Friends\u2018 meeting, but it was \u201cA thin meeting on account of the storm & flood. Rain the whole day & strong gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. On the very next day it turned cold, and the hills were already covered with snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1759<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Floods seem almost to have been a commonplace. 28th<\/sup> January was \u201ca very rainy day & a flood<\/em>\u201d. As late as 30th<\/sup> March Isaac was recording \u201cDeep snow & hard frost<\/em>\u201d. Then April saw prolonged dry weather, with Isaac commenting on 28th<\/sup> April \u201ca very dry season\u201d<\/em> which persisted throughout May. Then, suddenly, on 29th<\/sup> May: \u201cthe hills covered with snow. Very cold.<\/em>\u201d June and July were hot or very hot, but then in time for haymaking, August saw a lot of rain, though there was good weather for harvesting in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we have seen, Isaac was pretty tough, an inveterate traveller, and not easily put off by the weather. Yet, on 13th<\/sup> December he wrote: \u201cDesigned for Whitehaven, but the weather being so extreamly<\/em> [sic] cold prevented me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1760<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The middle of February was cold with a lot of snow \u2013 on the 16th<\/sup>: \u201cVery cold frost & thick snow<\/em>\u201d. Three days later there was a very poor turnout for the monthly meeting of Quakers: \u201cVery few people on account of the great snow then falling<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7th<\/sup> July contains a cryptic comment, which today\u2019s climate alarmists would love: \u201cVery uncertain weather: extreams<\/em> [sic] of heat & cold.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

28th<\/sup> September: \u201cA hard gale of wind from the south & a flood<\/em>\u201d. On 22nd<\/sup> October he set off for Whitehaven, but failed to get there and returned home on account of a great storm. After a benign harvest period, the weather seems to have gone downhill badly, for on 1st<\/sup> November Isaac reports \u201cA great storm of rain and wind & a flood<\/em>\u201d and on the following day \u201cA stormy day & a flood<\/em>\u201d. 6th<\/sup> December saw \u201cSharp frost & thick snow<\/em>\u201d but the following day saw \u201cA great rain & flood: snow going of<\/em> [sic] very fast<\/em>\u201d. Rain continued and the 12th<\/sup> was another very stormy day. Christmas Eve offered no respite: \u201cA stormy day & a hard gale of wind southerly; a flood in the evening<\/em>\u201d. The 27th<\/sup> was another very rainy day which brought another flood. The 28th<\/sup> sees an infuriatingly cryptic reference: \u201cDid not go to the Quaker meeting, the weather so very unseasonable<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1761<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1761 commenced as 1760 ended \u2013 with a great storm and a flood. March also commenced with \u201ca hard gale of wind & storm<\/em>\u201d. As late as 8th<\/sup> April Isaac was reporting snow and very cold weather. On 1st<\/sup> May he went fishing, \u201cbut the weather was so bad got nothing\u201d<\/em> and on the following day it was \u201cvery cold showry<\/em> [sic] weather; thick snow on the hills<\/em>\u201d. The summer seems to have been hot (but unfortunately we cannot say how hot), then on 29th<\/sup> October there was another flood of rain. Isaac went to London in November, and while there he received a letter on the 28th<\/sup> informing him of the events of the 20th<\/sup> \u2013 \u201ca very great flood at Cockermouth. Great damage done thereby in our warehouse & at sundry other places in the said town etc<\/em>.\u201d Back home, on 14th<\/sup> December, he went to Cockermouth to see for himself, and wrote \u201cThe flood done us some considerable damage<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1762<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 31st<\/sup> must indeed have been a stormy day, as Isaac reports, for it stopped him going to the Quaker meeting, which he attended religiously (a pun he probably wouldn\u2019t have appreciated). February was a very cold month with frost and snow, which continued into March. As late as 10th<\/sup> March, after days of snow, Isaac reported \u201cVery cold: snow thick upon the ground<\/em>\u201d, but then two days later: \u201cA continual storm of rain & a great flood occasioned by the melting of the snow<\/em>\u201d. It soon turned cold again, however, and as late as 29th<\/sup> March Isaac reports on \u201cA very cold snowy day\u201d<\/em> and on the following day he tells us that there was much snow on the hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May Isaac was off to London again, and either it was unseasonably warm, or this inhabitant of the north couldn\u2019t readily cope with the heat of the south. On the 27th<\/sup> he wrote: \u201cthe heat of the weather, dusty roads, little rest & fatigue considered<\/em>\u201d. The next two days he described as very hot. It must have been a hot dry season, since back at home he reports on 26th<\/sup> June: \u201cWeather still very hot & dry. Very little grass<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a benign early autumn he writes on 9th<\/sup> October that it has turned cold, and on the following day, wearing his lawyer\u2019s hat, he refers cryptically to gaining a brief \u201cupon the hail storm in the county of Berks<\/em>\u201d. By 7th<\/sup> November, there is \u201cA deep snow & very cold weather<\/em>\u201d. December ends with several references to sharp frosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1763<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And 1763 commenced with references to sharp and severe frosts. On 12th<\/sup> February \u201cA very deep snow and blowed much in drifts. Lanes full.<\/em>\u201d. This was followed by days of frost and snow, then on 26th<\/sup> February \u201cA stormy day and great flood<\/em>\u201d. After little comment about weather over the spring and summer, 2nd<\/sup> October brought \u201cA very stormy day and a great flood<\/em>\u201d. Then winter arrived on 19th<\/sup> November \u2013 hard frost and snow, and on the following day \u201cVery cold & sharp weather with snow<\/em>\u201d. But on 1st<\/sup> December the weather again prevented him from travelling, as planned, to Whitehaven: \u201cWas intended for Whitehaven but the great storm & flood prevented me<\/em>\u201d. Only eleven days later: \u201cDid not get to Cockermouth on account of the snow<\/em>\u201d. After Christmas, plans to travel to Wigton were rendered difficult \u2013 on the 27th<\/sup> \u201cA very snowy day. Set forward in afternoon for Wigton but returned<\/em>\u201d. And on the following day: \u201cSet forward again this morning for Wigton\u2026& got there through great difficulty<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1764<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January doesn\u2019t offer us much out of the ordinary, though the 13th<\/sup> offers us a cryptic reference to \u201cVery bad, uncertain weather<\/em>\u201d, and the last day of the month brought very stormy weather. This seems to have culimated in February \u2013 the 6th<\/sup> saw a continuation of \u201cstill very wet, unseasonable weather<\/em>\u201d. What Isaac means by this is a mystery, but I assume that \u201cseasonable weather\u201d in early February would have involved cold and snow rather than masses of rain. In any event, on the 11th<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Went to Cockermouth. A very great flood. It was near half yard deep in the warehouse, but little damage done.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on the following day:\u201dA stormy day and another flood\u201d<\/em> with more stormy weather on the 14th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer solstice brought \u201cextreem<\/em> [sic] hot weather<\/em>\u201d. What a shame Isaac kept detailed barometrical records, but didn\u2019t use a thermometer. Late summer and autumn saw Isaac complaining repeatedly of \u201cvery slow hay weather<\/em>\u201d, and on 29th<\/sup> September he complained that the harvest was late due to the showery weather, and he was complaining again on 2nd<\/sup> October about \u201cuncertain\u201d weather. 6th<\/sup> December brought a \u201cvery stormy day<\/em>\u201d, before the month ended with hard frosts, followed by a gentle thaw on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1765<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24th<\/sup> February was a very stormy day, and it must have been bad, for it prevented Isaac from getting to the Quaker meeting. Snow and hail persisted through much of March, with very stormy weather on the 24th<\/sup>. As late as 20th<\/sup> April it was still very cold, with hail and snow. Then the spring was very dry, and on 25th<\/sup> May Isaac was bemoaning \u201cVery dry weather; ground hard<\/em>\u201d. It remained hot and dry for three weeks more. Some showers on 15th<\/sup> June helped, but on 29th<\/sup> June Isaac was writing that \u201cThe drought now as severe as before. A bad prospect for hay<\/em>\u201d. And on 6th<\/sup> July: \u201cViewing the hay ground: grass very short & much burnt up by drought<\/em>\u201d. There was no respite. On 13th<\/sup> July Isaac complained that crops were very thin and full of mould, and on 17th<\/sup> July: \u201cA very severe drought: very little hay<\/em>\u201d. Three days later it was hot and Isaac was still worrying about the hay. He was mowing on the 22nd<\/sup>, but the hay was \u201cvery thin<\/em>\u201d. Mowing again on 30th<\/sup> July, the problem persisted: \u201cVery thin: the drought very severe<\/em>\u201d. And 1st<\/sup> August was \u201cextreem<\/em> [sic] hot<\/em>\u201d. On 7th<\/sup> August he finished getting in the hay (such as it was) but \u201cDrought continues<\/em>\u201d. As late as 16th<\/sup> August Isaac writes of \u201cVery fine weather. Drought still continues<\/em>.\u201d Finally, on 31st<\/sup> August, \u201cWeather is now broken & showry<\/em> [sic]\u201d but, wouldn\u2019t you know it, on 1st<\/sup> September: \u201cA very stormy day<\/em>\u201d. Poor Isaac. On 6th<\/sup> September: \u201cA great wind in the forenoon with heavy rain after. Corn & fruit suffers<\/em>\u201d. By the end of October (writing on 2nd<\/sup> November) \u201cThis week mostly cold weather with hail & snow<\/em>\u201d. December was cold and frosty. What a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1766<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January started cold and frosty as December had ended, and by February, winter was really making itself felt. 12th<\/sup> February: \u201cA great snow fell last night. It lies generally above a foot deep. Frost.<\/em>\u201d On the next day: \u201cSnow much blown into drifts. Roads unpassable<\/em>\u201d. On the 14th<\/sup>: \u201cSnow and frost. No moving from home.<\/em>\u201d And on the following day: \u201cLime kiln gone out. Could not get it brought away on account of the snow<\/em>\u201d. On the 16th<\/sup> he struggled to the Quaker meeting, but not many did: \u201cAt meeting: but thin on account of snow<\/em>\u201d, and two days later the monthly meeting (the Quakers did attend a lot of meetings) was also poorly attended on account of the snow. Winter wouldn\u2019t let up. 1st<\/sup> March was still very cold, and on the 4th<\/sup>: \u201cA great snow last night & this morning, so could not go to Keswick as we had proposed<\/em>\u201d. On 2st March \u201cCold sharp weather\u201d<\/em> and on the following day \u201cA very great snow came on in the afternoon<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then suddenly everything changed, and April\u2019s entries are peppered with references to very fine weather. On the 27th<\/sup> Isaac talks of \u201cVery fine weather & a forward spring<\/em>\u201d. Isaac was away on business for much of May and early June, but on his return to Cumberland he was unimpressed with the weather, which \u201cseems very unsettled<\/em>\u201d (10th<\/sup> June). It continued that way, and on 28th<\/sup> June Isaac complains: \u201cStill showry <\/em>[sic] wet weather; the roads dirty<\/em>\u201d. Only on 3rd<\/sup> July did Isaac express a little optimism about the weather: \u201cA warm day & begins to look like settled weather<\/em>\u201d. And indeed the hay crop, gathered in through July and August, did well, with some fine warm weather. But August ended \u201cvery stormy\u201d<\/em> (the 29th<\/sup>) and 1st<\/sup> September was \u201cwet and blowy<\/em>\u201d. That month continued wet, and caused problem with the harvest. Isaac was still busy (\u201cthrang<\/em>\u201d to use the Cumbrian dialect word, though he spelled it \u201cthrong\u201d) on 20th<\/sup> September, when he complained of \u201cA wet, late season<\/em>\u201d. October was better, and he got his winter wheat planted without difficulty, but the month ended very stormily \u2013 25th<\/sup> \u201ca very wet stormy day\u201d<\/em>; 26th<\/sup> at the Quaker meeting (\u201cVery thin<\/em> [attendance] on account of the stormy day\u201d<\/em>); and 27th<\/sup> \u201ca stormy day<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

December was pleasantly fine for the most part, but the 12th<\/sup> brought \u201cA heavy easterly storm & flood, so could not get the Moss surveyed as we proposed<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1767<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year started cold and snowy, so much so that on the 5th<\/sup> Isaac \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth on account of the snow\u201d<\/em>, and the following days saw more snow and harsh frosts. By the 10th<\/sup> Isaac reported that Loweswater was frozen over and people were skating on it. That night there was so much snow that the Quaker meeting on the 11th<\/sup> was cancelled. And so it continued: on the 12th<\/sup> \u201cSnow still continues to fall so that it is above a yard deep<\/em>\u201d; 13th<\/sup> \u201cNo going out of the house the snow lyeth so deep<\/em>\u201d; 14th<\/sup> \u201cA very strong NE wind which blows the snow into very great drifts<\/em>\u201d; 16th<\/sup> \u201cSnow the same\u2026Severe frost.<\/em>\u201d 17th<\/sup> \u201cSnow & frost continue<\/em>\u201d. 18th<\/sup> \u201cCould not get to the Meeting for the deep snow.<\/em>\u201d. 19th<\/sup> \u201cCould not get to Cockermouth for the deep snow<\/em>\u201d. On the 20th<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Monthly Meeting. But 10 men & one woman, so could not go thro\u2018 the business\u2026It appears by the account received from different places of this neighbourhood that there will be a very great loss among the sheep, a great number being already taken out dead from under the mountainous drifts of snow which will be yet some weeks in being thawed away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the following day a thaw started, but it froze again before night, and in the 22nd<\/sup> it rained, but the thaw was slow, and by the 23rd<\/sup> the wind had returned to the north and it froze hard. On the 24th<\/sup>, much snow was gone from the fields, though snow drifts still filled the lanes, then on the 25th<\/sup>, as the thaw went on, there was a flood. Yet still the drifts clogged the roads so badly that on the 26th<\/sup> they again prevented Isaac from going to Cockermouth, and he wasn\u2019t able to get there until the 29th<\/sup>. In the meantime (on the 28th<\/sup>) he reported that several of his fruit trees were broken to pieces by the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that every time Isaac went to do something in connection with the Moss, the weather thwarted his plans. On 20th<\/sup> February \u201cA storm of wind & rain so could not go out to lay off the shares in the Moss<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather remained cold and unsettled, and as late as 15th<\/sup> March Isaac wrote \u201cThe snow pretty thick; very cold weather<\/em>.\u201d All through May, and as late as 4th<\/sup> June, Isaac\u2019s diary is peppered with references to \u201cvery cold<\/em>\u201d and \u201ccold<\/em>\u201d. On the day before the summer solstice he wrote \u201cThe cold dry weather yet continue[s]<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 18th<\/sup> September, having gathered in his wheat, isaac calls it \u201cA good crop, but suffered with weather.<\/em>\u201d On 3rd<\/sup> October he was still \u201cthrang<\/em>\u201d with the harvest, and complains of \u201can uncommon wet season<\/em>\u201d. The year ended with hard frosts and snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1768<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And 1768 commenced with hard frosts and snow, which continued until 12th<\/sup> January, which was \u201ca very stormy day<\/em>\u201d. Spring and summer were interspersed with alternate references to \u201cvery cold<\/em>\u201d and \u201cvery hot<\/em>\u201d, but no dramatic weather seems to have occurred, which must have been a relief. Having said that, references to weather in the early part of 1768 are few and far between, Isaac seemingly been preoccupied with that year\u2019s election (his diaries are full of references to it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From mid-November, into December, there were storms and unsettled weather. 15th<\/sup> November: \u201cA hard gale of wind and stormy weather<\/em>\u201d. On the 16th \u201cThe gale hardens and the storm grows more violent<\/em>\u201d. On the 21st<\/sup> \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth. Very wet stormy weather<\/em>\u201d. On the 28th<\/sup> \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth. A very stormy day.<\/em>\u201d 1st<\/sup> December: \u201cHedging this week at Bankheads top. The wind has blown most of it over<\/em>.\u201d 4th<\/sup>: \u201cUnsettled weather and much rain with high winds<\/em>\u201d. The winter solstice brought \u201cVery stormy and unsettled weather\u201d<\/em> and Christmas Day was worse \u2013 \u201cVery stormy; a great flood<\/em>\u201d. On the 30th<\/sup>: \u201cVery stormy,<\/em>\u201d and the year ended with the weather continuing wet and unsettled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1769<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year started with what we might regard as normal winter weather, but it turned particularly cold and frosty in February, with a fair bit of snow. And spring was no better. On 1st<\/sup> April Isaac wrote of \u201cVery cold season: frost in the nights; snow on the hills.\u201d <\/em>As late as 15th<\/sup> April he was complaining of very cold weather. <\/em>12th<\/sup> June: \u201cWeather still very cold for the season\u201d. <\/em>Yet July was hot or \u201cextreem\u201d <\/em>hot. <\/em>That month Isaac took very ill, and he failed to write the diary for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1770<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac resumed his diary only in late September 1770, but it\u2019s not long before he\u2019s complaining of very wet weather. On 2nd<\/sup> November, he records getting in the last of the corn, but says it was \u201cwet & in bad condition<\/em>\u201d. December commenced with stormy weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1771<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year started \u201cvery wet & stormy\u201d<\/em>. It turned frosty from the 4th<\/sup>, and continued that way until a thaw on the 23rd<\/sup>. The month ended with another \u201cvery hard gale of wind<\/em>\u201d. March started cold. The 3rd<\/sup> was very cold with a strong NE wind, and on the 9th<\/sup> the frost was so hard that it stopped Isaac from ploughing. Then the 12th<\/sup> & 13th<\/sup> saw gales and storms. But winter hadn\u2019t finished, and on 24th<\/sup> March Isaac failed to attend the Quaker meeting because of \u201cthe weather <\/em>[being] so very cold; a severe frost. Stopt <\/em>[sic] ploughing latter end of the week on that account<\/em>\u201d. April\u2019s weather started fine, but still cold \u2013 on the 6th<\/sup> Isaac records \u201chard frost in the nights.<\/em>\u201d It got worse. 14th<\/sup> April: \u201cWeather cold & sharp frost<\/em>\u201d. On the 15th<\/sup> \u201cSnow & very hard frost.<\/em>\u201d 16th<\/sup>: \u201cThe frost continues. It stops ploughing.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of May was cold and wet. 25Th<\/sup>: \u201cShowry<\/em> [sic] cold weather<\/em>.\u201d 26th<\/sup>: \u201cA great flood.<\/em>\u201d And although on 1st<\/sup> June Isaac thought \u201cWeather seems to be settling again and more moderate at present<\/em>\u201d, it didn\u2019t last. June 2nd<\/sup> was \u201ca wet day\u201d<\/em>, the 4th<\/sup> was still unsettled and the 6th<\/sup> was cold. Then the 7th<\/sup> was \u201cN.B. A very hot day<\/em>.\u201d Why NB? Was it unusually<\/strong> hot? Certainly Isaac says the 10th<\/sup> & 11th<\/sup> were both very hot. But then on the 16th<\/sup> he didn\u2019t get to the meeting, \u201cit being so very wet<\/em>.\u201d That, however, is the only such reference for the rest of the month, which is peppered with references to hot and very hot weather. But August was difficult \u2013 showery and uncertain weather, when he wanted to be getting in the hay. It continued thus through September, then on 7th<\/sup> October, \u201cA very stormy day, so did not go to Cockermouth,<\/em>\u201d followed by a stormy next day, and a strong gale of wind on the 9th<\/sup>. On the 12th<\/sup>: \u201cVery wet last night and a flood<\/em>.\u201d Then the 13th<\/sup>: \u201cA very stormy day & a very great wind & flood<\/em>. Did not get to Meeting. Becks much out.<\/em>\u201d 14th<\/sup>: \u201cA stormy day, so did not go to Cockermouth.<\/em>\u201d On the 21st<\/sup> it was again very stormy, and on the 23rd<\/sup>: \u201cWeather still very uncertain. Very high winds, storms of rain and great floods.<\/em>\u201d The next day \u201cA very stormy day & a great flood<\/em>.\u201d This awful weather caused problems days later. On 3rd<\/sup> November: \u201cWent to Meeting. Roads very dirty & wet, so that it is with difficulty that I can get along<\/em>.\u201d November was little better. On the 10th<\/sup> \u201cA very wet day. Did not go to the Meeting<\/em>.\u201d 11th<\/sup>: \u201cA very stormy day and a flood, so did not get to Cockermouth\u2026<\/em>\u201d. On the 15th<\/sup> \u201cA very wet stormy day & a flood<\/em>.\u201d 16th<\/sup>: \u201cA very stormy day and a very great flood in the night. Waters the hig[h]est they have been for several years.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1772<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January was cold. On the 16th<\/sup> \u201cSharp frost & excessive cold.<\/em>\u201d 17th<\/sup>: \u201cFrost<\/em>.\u201d 18th<\/sup>: \u201cHard frost & likely to continue<\/em>.\u201d 19th<\/sup>: \u201cFrost.<\/em>\u201d 21st<\/sup>: \u201cVery hard frost & a covering of snow<\/em>\u201d. 22nd<\/sup>: \u201cFrost\u201d. On the 23rd<\/sup> \u201cThe frost continue\u201d.<\/em> On the 25th<\/sup> \u201cFrost and very cold, sharp weather.<\/em>\u201d 26th<\/sup>: \u201cA snowy day. Did not go to meeting, the snow about a foot thick.\u201d<\/em> 27th<\/sup>: \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth. Snow deep and a sharp frost and very cold.<\/em>\u201d 28th<\/sup>: \u201cSharp frost & snow<\/em>\u201d. On the 29th<\/sup> \u201cSharp frost<\/em>\u201d. On the 30th<\/sup> \u201cFrost so slape<\/em> [Cumbrian dialect word for \u201cslippy\u201d] that I durst not go to Meeting. Very cold.<\/em>\u201d 1st<\/sup> February: \u201cThe frost continue & a pretty thick cover of snow<\/em>.\u201d 5th<\/sup> February: \u201cThe frost & cold very severe. Hard weather.<\/em>\u201d After a brief thaw, the frost and snow continued for most of the rest of the month, so it lasted on and off (mostly on) for a good six weeks. Even in the middle of March, winter wouldn\u2019t give up: 14th<\/sup> \u2013 \u201cCold sharp weather<\/em>.\u201d 15th<\/sup>: \u201cSharp frost<\/em>\u201d. On the 16th<\/sup> \u201cSharp frost<\/em>.\u201d 17th<\/sup>: \u201cVery cold weather<\/em>\u201d. On the 18th<\/sup> March \u201cA great snow this morning, in general about ankle deep<\/em>\u201d. As late as 18th<\/sup> April Isaac complains of cold weather, and on the 19th<\/sup> of another sharp frost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer passed without incident, but by 3rd<\/sup> October, Isaac is reporting on \u201cA very wet day and a flood. Weather yet is very unsettled.<\/em>\u201d Other than a week of good dry weather, he complained all through October that it was wet and unsettled (no good when the last of the harvest was being brought in), then on the 29th<\/sup>: \u201cA very stormy day and a flood.<\/em>\u201d November carried on in the same vein: a strong gale of wind on the first, and on the 6th<\/sup>: \u201cWeather mostly very stormy & great floods so that we can\u2019t get up the potatoes.<\/em>\u201d And so it continued, with the 13th<\/sup> seeing stormy weather with \u201cfire<\/em>\u201d [presumably lightning], thunder and rain. On the 14th<\/sup>, the wet weather was still preventing him getting up his potatoes. On the 20th<\/sup> another storm, and on the 21st<\/sup>, \u201cWeather is still very uncertain and inclined to high winds & much rain.\u201d On the 23rd<\/sup>: \u201cA storm & very great flood last night & this morning<\/em>.\u201d By 12th<\/sup> December he is still reporting frequent floods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1773<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A frosty start to the year, turning stormy around the middle of January. On the 18th<\/sup> \u201cA very windy stormy day<\/em>.\u201d 19th<\/sup>: Few people at the Meeting due to a very stormy day and a flood. By the end of the month it was once more cold and frosty with snow on the hills. And so it carried on for the first two weeks of February before turning stormy on the 13th<\/sup>. 1st<\/sup> March saw \u201cA very stormy day & a great flood<\/em>.\u201d On the 2nd<\/sup>: \u201cThe storm came on again in the night and continued about 24 hours. A very great wind and flood which got into the low garden but did little damage.<\/em>\u201d The rest of March was fine, though with some frost at night. But on the 12th<\/sup> April: \u201cWeather cold; great showers of hail & snow upon the hills<\/em>.\u201d And on the 17th<\/sup>, \u201cA great storm in the night<\/em>.\u201d Also on the 22nd<\/sup>: \u201ca storm & very great flood in the night<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May started cold, as so often. On the 1st<\/sup> \u201cA very cold blowy day with several showers of snow.<\/em>\u201d 2nd<\/sup>: \u201cVery cold & snow<\/em>\u201d. On the 4th<\/sup> \u201cCold weather; much snow on the hills. Frost in the nights which will much hurt the blossoms for fruit.\u201d<\/em> 10th<\/sup>: \u201cA fine day but the eastern mountains cover\u2019d thick with snow. Very cold & sharp frost.<\/em>\u201d 11th<\/sup>: \u201cThe fells still cover\u2019d thick with snow, more than I ever saw before so late in the season.<\/em>\u201d 20th<\/sup>: \u201cA cold showry <\/em>[sic] day. The grass come very slowly yet.<\/em>\u201d At last, on the 25th<\/sup>, spring arrived, though its delayed arrival was causing problems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A very fine day & warm weather\u2026Beasts<\/em> [i.e. cattle] mostly put out to grass which is yet but short on account of the cold weather and great snow on the fore part of this month.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately June was fine and very warm or hot, and by the 28th<\/sup> Isaac was able to report \u201cThe grass now grow very fast\u2026<\/em>\u201d but he couldn\u2019t help reminding himself \u201c\u2026but was late in getting forward on account of the cold spring etc.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

July was also fine and the hay-making went well. On the 24th<\/sup> Isaac was feeling good about the farm, about how much hay was collected in, and commented \u201cA very fine season<\/em>.\u201d August was mostly hot or very hot, but by the middle of September summer was certainly over. On the 12th<\/sup> \u201cA very great storm and flood this afternoon & night; the beck very great.<\/em>\u201d And on the 16th<\/sup>: \u201cA great storm & flood<\/em>\u201d. On the 18th<\/sup>: \u201cWeather still continues broken & unsettled. Cold showers & sudden storms of wind & rain.<\/em>\u201d 3rd<\/sup> October: \u201cA very wet stormy day.<\/em>\u201d 4th<\/sup>: \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth, weather so very unseasonable<\/em>.\u201d 7th<\/sup>: \u201cWeather still very unsettled; heavy rain & high winds.<\/em>\u201d 5th<\/sup> November: \u201cWeather continue very wet. Great storms of wind & rain from the south. Can\u2019t get the wheat put in <\/em>[i.e. can\u2019t plant the winter wheat] on said account.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a stormy autumn, winter arrived early. 24th<\/sup> November: \u201cVery cold weather; frost & snow.<\/em>\u201d 25th<\/sup>: \u201cFrost & snow continue<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1774<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old year had ended with a sharp frost, and so 1774 started. And it carried on. 7th<\/sup> January: \u201cSevere frost; most of the loughs froze.<\/em>\u201d After a brief thaw, 17th<\/sup> January sees Isaac reporting \u201cA great snow & frost.<\/em>\u201d 18th<\/sup>: \u201cVery sharp frost & snow upon the ground.<\/em>\u201d The meeting on the 18th<\/sup> was poorly attended on account of the snow, and on the 20th<\/sup>: \u201cSnow & very sharp frost; the roads glaz\u2019d; dangerous riding<\/em>.\u201d 23rd<\/sup>: \u201cA thick snow last night and this day no meeting kept. The snow lays about half a yard deep.<\/em>\u201d 24th<\/sup>: \u201cThe snow continues. As there is little wind it lays yet in common about \u00bd yard deep. No going to Cockermouth or elsewhere without necessity oblige. Hard frost.<\/em>\u201d 25th<\/sup>: \u201cSnow the same and hard froze. No cattle, sheep etc can get anything upon the ground but must be all fed. A very severe season.<\/em>\u201d 26th<\/sup>: \u201cSnow continues & it looks as though we would have more.<\/em>\u201d Then there was the briefest of thaws, but it offered no respite. 27th<\/sup>: \u201cThe<\/em> snow is a little gone and it thaws, tho\u2018 but very slowly. No meeting held\u2026this day, the snow so thick & deep. Very bad traviling <\/em>[sic].\u201d Something of a thaw occurred through the next days, but freezing overnight temperatures made things icy and dangerous. 30th<\/sup> \u201cWent to the Meeting, but thin.<\/em> [i.e. poorly attended]. The roads all in a glaze with ice. Very dangerous traviling <\/em>[sic] either on horseback or on foot. A covering of snow yet continue.<\/em>\u201d 31st<\/sup>: \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth on account of the roads being one continued platt of ice.<\/em>\u201d And it continued thus until 12th<\/sup> February, when there was a storm. The 13th<\/sup> saw very stormy weather and a flood. The 19th<\/sup> saw another very great storm and wind. The 21st<\/sup> was stormy with snow, and the 22nd<\/sup> & 24th<\/sup> were also stormy. On 2nd<\/sup> March it was very cold and the ground was covered with snow. Then on the 6th<\/sup> it was very stormy. As late as April the weather was still cold, poor and problematic. 3rd<\/sup> \u201cWeather appears to be breaking & unsettled.<\/em>\u201d 4th<\/sup> \u201cDid not get to Cockermouth on account of the day being so very stormy\u2026The day continued showry <\/em>[sic] and very cold.<\/em>\u201d 5th<\/sup> \u201cMuch snow on the hills.<\/em>\u201d 15th<\/sup> \u201cWeather more cold and showry <\/em>[sic].<\/em>\u201d 18th<\/sup> \u201cA cold showry <\/em>[sic] day<\/em>.\u201d 22<\/em>nd<\/em><\/sup> \u201cWeather cold and showers of hail<\/em>.\u201d And while May wasn\u2019t so bad as the year before, on 7th<\/sup> May: \u201cWeather very dry but cold easterly winds & frost in nights.<\/em>\u201d 23rd<\/sup> \u201cWeather still continue cold.<\/em>\u201d 27th<\/sup> \u201cThe weather contimues cold; the grass comes but very slow.<\/em>\u201d 28th<\/sup> \u201cWeather showry <\/em>[sic] but still cold.<\/em>\u201d Even as late as 23rd<\/sup> June Isaac was still noting \u201cWeather still cold & showry <\/em>[sic].\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The summer and autumn passed without much meteorological comment or interest, but December definitely saw the sharp return of winter. 3rd<\/sup> December: \u201cIntended to have gone to Workington yesterday but was prevented by the weather: a very snowy day. And this day a great storm of rain from the south east.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1775<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10th<\/sup>, 11th<\/sup> and 16th<\/sup> January were stormy or very stormy, as were the 19th<\/sup>, 24th<\/sup> & 25th<\/sup> February. At least the great cold, snow and ice of the previous winters seem to have kept away. Or they did until March, when Isaac might have been looking forward to spring. 4th<\/sup> March: \u201cA very bad snowy day and severe weather.<\/em>\u201d 7th<\/sup> \u201cA cold day of showers and hail.<\/em>\u201d 9th<\/sup> \u201cA very violent storm and flood. Wind about SSW and blew very hard. Much ship-wreck on the coasts.<\/em>\u201d 11th<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day\u2026a very great flood.<\/em>\u201d 29th<\/sup> \u201cA thick snow and very sharp frost\u201d. <\/em>30th<\/sup> \u201cWeather yet cold and frosty.<\/em>\u201d Only on 1st<\/sup> April did Isaac report that the snow and frost were mostly gone. Thankfully April was dry and towards the end of the month even hot \u2013 as Isaac said on the 22nd<\/sup> \u201ca pretty fine season<\/em>.\u201d <\/em>But then much of early \u2013 mid May was cold and showery. Yet June started hot and dry. On the 1st<\/sup> \u201cWeather continues hot and dry\u201d<\/em> and on the 2nd<\/sup> \u201cWeather still continues very hot and dry; to appearance a drought.<\/em>\u201d So it continued for most of the month, but in July, as he was wanting to start hay-making, it turned showery. On 8th<\/sup> July \u201cGeneral complaint this year that the hay is very thinn <\/em>[sic] owing to the dry weather.<\/em>\u201d 9th<\/sup> August: \u201cLast night much rain and a flood.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1776<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January was cold, snowy and frosty. By the end of the month it was desperately cold. 28th<\/sup> \u201cExtream <\/em>[sic] cold and very sharp frost. Likely to continue. It has been now three weeks frost. <\/em>29th<\/sup> \u201cDid not go to Cockermouth on account of the extreem <\/em>[sic] cold & sharp frost. It freezes to the very fire sides.<\/em>\u201d 30th<\/sup> \u201cThe weather the same. All the water all-most froze up. Can scarce get for the cattle. Nothing but good springs now open.<\/em>\u201d 31st<\/sup> \u201cThe weather pretty much the same. A great complaint of the potatoes being frosted, the frost being so very severe so no cover can save them.<\/em>\u201d Finally it thawed in early February, only for it to be stormy on the 4th<\/sup>. On the 9th<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day; wind south and blew very hard in the night. Did damage to several houses etc. Intended to have gone to Workington but prevented by weather.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later in the month he went to southern Scotland, but while there the weather caused him problems in early March. On 3rd<\/sup> March: \u201cCame on a great snow.<\/em>\u201d Travelling home was difficult. He had to halt his journey for four hours until the snow eased. The 5th<\/sup> & 6th<\/sup> were cold, and by the 7th<\/sup> he was ready to sail back across the Solway to Cumberland but the weather thwarted him: \u201cA great storm of wind with snow and rain from the SE. A very heavy sea getting into this place. Well we did not go out to sea in the night before the storm.<\/em>\u201d 8th<\/sup> \u201cWind\u2026blowing hard and a great sea setting into this place. No prospect of a passage yet.<\/em>\u201d It wasn\u2019t until the 10th<\/sup> that the storm abated sufficiently for him to sail home. Once home, a few days later, on the 19th<\/sup>, it was wet and stormy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May started cold, and on the 18th<\/sup> Isaac complained \u201cA strong NE wind and very cold. It stops the spring.<\/em>\u201d Clearly it did, because on the 26th<\/sup> he was complaining of a great scarcity of grass. In July he went back to the south of Scotland, but the weather there was as difficult as on his previous visit earlier in the year. On 7th<\/sup> July Isaac wrote \u201cStay\u2019d here this day. Very wet and stormy. A great flood, so could not get but little out of the house.<\/em>\u201d But thereafter it was a decent summer, and he was well pleased with the hay that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then autumn did what it so regularly did. On 19th<\/sup> October, \u201cStormy in the afternoon and a flood.<\/em>\u201d But mostly the autumn was pretty decent, and it did not deteriorate until the middle of November. The 15th<\/sup> saw \u201cA very stormy day and a flood\u201d<\/em> as did the 18th<\/sup>, <\/em>when the weather was so bad it stopped him going to Cockermouth. On the 24th<\/sup> it turned cold, and remained that way, with frosts, for the rest of the month, before 1st<\/sup> December brought \u201cA great storm & flood<\/em>\u201d. The 22nd<\/sup> also saw \u201cA stormy night and a flood<\/em>\u201d, then on Christmas Eve it turned cold and frosty and stayed like that, with some snow, for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1777<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new year started as the old one ended. On the 2nd<\/sup>, Isaac reported \u201cThe weather continues very severe frost and snow. Can do nothing out of doors.<\/em>\u201d On the 4th<\/sup> \u201cWeather the same: the snow covers the ground about three inches deep and hard froze, so that the goods <\/em>[i.e. cattle] can get little<\/em>.\u201d On the 8th<\/sup> \u201cWeather very severe frost, which has continued now two weeks.<\/em>\u201d On the 10th<\/sup> \u201cSevere frost and snow about 3 inches deep<\/em>.\u201d The following day there was a thaw, but as so often happens in such cases, the change in the weather was simply to something else problematic. The 12th<\/sup> was a very stormy day, and the 13th<\/sup> was stormy too. The month ended very cold, and 1st<\/sup> February saw \u201cWeather very severe: frost and snow<\/em>.\u201d It continued, remorselessly. The 10th<\/sup> & 11th<\/sup> \u201cCold hard weather\u201d. <\/em>On the 18th<\/sup> \u201cThe weather very severe; frost & snow<\/em>.\u201d On the 20th<\/sup> \u201cA thick snow about a foot or half a yard deep in general. Some considerable drifts.<\/em>\u201d On the next day \u201cA strong east wind & showers of snow\u2026.Snow pretty deep and blown into drifts.<\/em>\u201d On the 22nd<\/sup> \u201cThe snow yet continues. Obliged to fodder the sheep twice a day<\/em>.\u201d Finally on the 23rd<\/sup> there was a thaw. But on 8th<\/sup> March it was cold with snow. March was again a cold month, and as late as the 30th<\/sup> Isaac complained that it was a very cold day. April started fine, but with overnight frosts. It was still cold on the 12th<\/sup>. On 16th<\/sup> May Isaac wrote that the weather was cold and unsettled. Late May and June were better, and July was warm, but August was wet (as usual \u2013 hay time). The end of the month was Apocalyptic. On the 23rd<\/sup> \u201cCorn much laid down. Wheat appears to be a very bad crop. A great complaint of its being blasted.<\/em>\u201d On the 24th<\/sup> \u201cIt came on a very great storm and flood. Much wet before I got home. The greatest flood here that hath been for several years. Water run thro\u2018 the byar<\/em> [sic], fill\u2019d the cellar and the swine house, so was obliged to remove the swine<\/em>.\u201d The following day \u201cWeather wet & stormy. Did not get to Cockermouth. Hay in many places wash\u2019d away by the floods or almost cover\u2019d with water upon the ground<\/em>.\u201d Gathering in the hay was problematic into September. On the 27th<\/sup> Isaac complained that the barley crop was very poor and much grown over with weed. It was a bad barley crop that year in general, and the barley was very small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The start of October was no better. On the 2nd<\/sup> \u201cA very great flood this night<\/em>.\u201d On the 4th<\/sup> \u201cWeather still continues to be unsettled. The corn in bad condition; beaten down to the ground and much grown over with weed<\/em>.\u201d On the 7th<\/sup> \u201cCorn very light this year and in general a failing crop<\/em>.\u201d It rained all day on the 8th<\/sup> and was followed by a stormy night. On the 24th<\/sup> \u201cWeather broke; stormy and unsettled; great floods<\/em>.\u201d Two days later he didn\u2019t get to the Meeting \u2013 the weather remained \u201cstormy & unsettled<\/em>.\u201d The rest of the month was wet and on Halloween the potato crop was a disappointment \u2013 \u201cthey are not large but pretty rank<\/em>\u201d. 1st<\/sup> November was cold with hail showers and the 2nd<\/sup> was stormy. The potatoes were all up by the 6th<\/sup>, small compared to the previous year and about only half the quantity. The month continued wet but ended with cold and snow \u2013 a \u201cgreat fall<\/em>\u201d of snow on the night of the 28th<\/sup>. December was uneventful, but ended as usual, New Year\u2019s Eve seeing \u201cVery hard weather with frost & snow, which concludes the year<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1778<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first two days continued the bitter cold, the 3rd<\/sup> saw a hard gale with snow, the 4th<\/sup> brought hail showers. It was \u201cVery slape <\/em>[slippy] and dangerous walking<\/em>\u201d. The 8th<\/sup> brought a sharp frost and snow on the hills. Despite that, the month ended with Isaac\u2019s approbation: \u201cWeather in general very moderate and fine for winter. Very little frost this winter<\/em>\u201d. As sometimes happened, winter seemed to continue into March. The 6th<\/sup> was \u201cA very snowy day; it lays now above six inches deep<\/em>\u201d and it was still lying on the 7th<\/sup>. The snow didn\u2019t persist, but the cold did. The 22nd<\/sup> was \u201cA very wet, stormy day so did not go to the Meeting as intended.<\/em>\u201d Cold, showers of hail followed, then on the 28th<\/sup> a very wet day and a flood. And once again winter persisted into April, despite a brief hot spell in the second week. 21st<\/sup> \u201cA very snowy day & very cold weather<\/em>.\u201d 23rd<\/sup> \u201cWeather continues very cold and much snow on the hills. Severe frost in the nights.<\/em>\u201d Wet cold weather persisted as late as 8th<\/sup> May. On 16th<\/sup> May Isaac wrote \u201cWeather continues very wet and cold for the season.<\/em>\u201d On the 20th<\/sup> \u201cMuch barley yet to sow, weather has been so very wet & cold<\/em>.\u201d The 29th<\/sup> and 31st<\/sup> both saw Isaac write \u201cA fine day but cold for the season<\/em>.\u201d The 1st<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> June were cold and showery and on the 5th<\/sup> Isaac wrote \u201cThe weather continues cold and wet for the season. Sheep very low & in bad condition this season<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was 27th<\/sup> June before Isaac recorded hot weather, then July was very hot. Then August did it again. On the 2nd<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day. Did not get to the Meeting<\/em>.\u201d On the 5th<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day and a great flood.<\/em>\u201d The 12th<\/sup> was very stormy too, then Isaac noted with relief that the weather was settled and he could get on with gathering in the hay. Fine dry, even hot weather continued well into September. But then on the 16th<\/sup> \u201cA stormy night and a great flood.<\/em>\u201d Fortunately that was an aberration, the month improved, and there was a good harvest, which was just in time. On the 29th<\/sup> \u201cThe weather seems now changeable & blows pretty hard<\/em>.\u201d On the 30th<\/sup> \u201cA stormy day\u2026The weather seems to sett<\/em> [sic] in very rough and stormy<\/em>.\u201d 1st<\/sup> October was rough and stormy too, and on the 2nd<\/sup> the weather was still unsettled. The corn was blown down and very wet. October was mostly fine but with frosty nights from as early as the 12th<\/sup>. It was 18th<\/sup> November before the first snow appeared on the hills. December commenced wet and stormy and the roads were in a very bad way. On the 11th<\/sup> \u201cWeather very stormy; almost one continued storm and floods. The ground very full of water; the meadows mostly overflowed<\/em>.\u201d The year ended with a very stormy day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1779<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January saw a lot of frost, but it can\u2019t have been too bad because Isaac wasn\u2019t complaining. The month ended with a storm. February saw a lot of wind, but compared to previous years it seems to have been mild, and on the 28th<\/sup> Isaac wrote \u201cWeather fair; spring very forward<\/em>.\u201d On 6th<\/sup> March \u201cVery fine weather. The spring uncommonly forward: trees buding <\/em>[sic] and putting out their leaves like the middle of May<\/em>.\u201d On the 9th<\/sup> \u201cAn extraordinary fine season\u2026A very hot day<\/em>.\u201d He couldn\u2019t get over it \u2013 on the 13th<\/sup> \u201cExtraordinary fine spring weather; season very forward<\/em>.\u201d On the 18th<\/sup> \u201cA very fine day\u2026The forwardest spring known in the memory of any one here<\/em>.\u201d On the 26th<\/sup> \u201cWeather continues very favourable. Spring very forward; the leaves out on the thorn and some other trees<\/em>.\u201d On 4th<\/sup> April, as though he still couldn\u2019t believe it \u201cSpring very forward\u201d. <\/em>He repeated this mantra on the 9th<\/sup> and the 13th<\/sup>. I suppose it couldn\u2019t last. The 20th<\/sup> was stormy, the 22nd<\/sup> was very wet and cold, the 23rd<\/sup> was very cold, then the 25th<\/sup> saw \u201cVery cold weather with frequent showers of hail\u2026It came on storm and a flood<\/em>.\u201d The 28th<\/sup> was very cold with hail showers. 1st<\/sup> May saw cold weather inclining to frost. On the 2nd<\/sup> Isaac recorded a hard frost the previous night and commented that although it was a fine day, it was cold for the season. Then, on 3rd<\/sup> May \u201cA very thick snow last night. It lay this morning about nine inches deep upon an average<\/em>.\u201d It soon melted, but it remained cold. Now the mantra was that it was cold for the season, and Isaac repeated this on 18th<\/sup> and 22nd<\/sup> May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the weather turned dramatically again, and by the end of the month Isaac is writing about very hot days. June was very dry and sometimes hot, as was July. As usual the weather broke in August. On the 4th<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day and a flood<\/em>\u201d, though this was thundery weather and it soon returned to being hot and dry. August contains several references to very hot days. September saw the weather hold decently for harvesting (and it was a good harvest) before turning wet on the 14th<\/sup>, and staying \u201cwet and unseasonable, but warm<\/em>\u201d. October began dry and fine, but as early as the 2nd<\/sup> \u201cinclined to frost<\/em>\u201d. By the middle of the month it was clearly autumn. On the 15th<\/sup> \u201cCame on storm about midnight. Ground full of water<\/em>.\u201d On the 18th<\/sup> \u201cA very stormy day with much thunder and lightning<\/em>.\u201d On the 19th<\/sup> \u201cWeather continues very bad and stormy; a very great flood<\/em>\u201d. On the 20th<\/sup> \u201cA heavy rain in the night\u2026.Ground very full of water, which hinders us from taking up the potatoes<\/em>.\u201d It dried up for a few days, but byt the 25th<\/sup> was once again stormy and unsettled. The 28th<\/sup> saw a storm of wind and rain in the night and a flood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16th<\/sup> November saw the first snow on the hills, and by the 21st<\/sup> there was a hard frost. December was cold and frosty on and off, but ended very cold. New year\u2019s Eve saw Isaac comment \u201cThe frost seems now to sett <\/em>[sic] in more intense than before<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1780<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January started bitterly cold with very hard frosts, so much so that on 12th<\/sup> January Isaac wrote \u201cWeather very sharp; the frost got into the houses. Froze the piss in the pous under the beds. Some potatoes frosted in the houses.<\/em>\u201d People were ice skating on Loweswater on the 15th<\/sup> \u2013 just in time as a thaw commenced on the next day. But the bitter cold and frost returned by the 20th<\/sup>, and continued for the rest of the month and into February. It continued for at least a couple of weeks, but then Isaac\u2019s diary ceases, once again due to serious illness, and recommences only in late October. November was cold and frosty, with a considerable fall of snow on the 21st<\/sup>. December was mild with occasional cold snaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1781<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

January started cold with snow showers, and severe frosts were being recorded in the middle of the month. Some snow towards the end of the month, but an unremarkable February followed. March was relatively mild and favourable, before turning cold at the end of the month, with snow on the hills. April saw the usual mixed bag of weather, but with no great drama. May was cold. On the 11th<\/sup> \u201cWeather very cold and sharp for the season.<\/em>\u201d On the 12th<\/sup> \u201cSome cold showers. The grass seems to come very slow. Frost in the nights<\/em>.\u201d On the 17th<\/sup> \u201cWeather still continues cold, the season considered<\/em>.\u201d Then things picked up and on the 29th<\/sup> it was \u201cvery hot<\/em>\u201d. June was dry and on the 27th<\/sup> Isaac wrote \u201cMowed the Bleachyard yesterday but thin of grass; droughted<\/em>.\u201d On the 30th<\/sup> \u201cPeople are just beginning to mow. Grass but short<\/em>.\u201d The dry weather continued, so that on 20th<\/sup> July, when busy with the hay, Isaac reported it \u201cNot full but in part droughted<\/em>.\u201d The corn was all in by 17th<\/sup> August, and it promised well for a good harvest. All went well, which was just as well since 27th<\/sup> August saw \u201cA stormy day and a flood.\u201d <\/em>On 6th<\/sup> September Isaac reported with satisfaction that \u201cThe harvest in general is pretty forward this year in this part of the country<\/em>.\u201d The weather remained fine throughout October, at which point the diary ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether \u201cpre-industrial\u201d is 1850-1900, 1720-1800, or some other time period, nobody has ever \u2013 to my satisfaction at least \u2013 explained why its climate is the paradigm, of all the climates the Earth has experienced during its 4.5 billion years, that must be preserved at all costs. Although, given an ever-changing climate, how we pickle a paradigm in aspic is something else that is never explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac Fletcher\u2019s wonderful diaries demonstrate very clearly that if the climate has changed since the late 18th<\/sup> century, then in the part of Cumberland where Isaac lived then (and where I live now), it has probably changed for the better. If anything, judging by his diaries, it\u2019s not so unpleasantly cold now as then, and winters are no longer so dreadfully prolonged. For every \u201cextreme weather event\u201d Cumbria sees today, Isaac\u2019s Cumberland probably saw several. His diaries reveal long cold winters with spring delayed until late May; they show one spring that came earlier than anyone could remember; there were wet and miserable summers, there were hot summers and there were droughts; there were numerous damaging floods and there were dangerous storms. Some years saw a quite astonishing variety of extreme weather. Nothing was predictable. A glorious early spring morphed into a bitterly cold late spring, followed by a hot summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s interesting that the new narrative of climate alarmists is that \u201cclimate change\u201d is driving \u201cextreme\u201d weather, yet Isaac\u2019s diaries demonstrate extraordinary extremes compared to the UK weather in the early 21st<\/sup> century. His portion of the pe-industrial era had it all in spades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Isaac were to return today, I imagine he would be very favourably taken with our climate. Certainly I don\u2019t like the sound of his. And were we to experience today the climate that Isaac lived through, then rest assured that the media would pronounce on every extreme weather event with near hysteria, and inform us that the end is nigh, because of man-made climate change. The problem with the narrative is that it has to ignore history. Fortunately, people like Isaac Fletcher wrote down what they saw, so we can see that the climate alarmists are wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pre-industrial climate chaos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":264576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818056,691820629,691819268],"class_list":{"0":"post-264574","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-climate-change","9":"tag-cumberland-westmorland-antiquarian-and-archaeological-society","10":"tag-global-temperatures","12":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0v3imagesbin32067d26299f791b67f6cc4ad4c5927a-g895j7fvd71gpeexpt2_t1880.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-16Pk","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":309151,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=309151","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":0},"title":"The Holocene Climatic Optimum and the \u201cpre-industrial\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/16\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The \u201cpre-industrial\u201d according to the IPCC in a footnote on page 43 of AR6 WGI is prior to 1750 for radiative forcings and before 1850 for temperature. Both dates are within the period commonly described as the\u00a0Little Ice Age.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0251A_2.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0251A_2.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0251A_2.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0251A_2.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0251A_2.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":293815,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=293815","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":1},"title":"Climate Models Hide the Paleo\u00a0Incline","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/05\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In\u00a0 2019, the iconic email from the Climategate leak included a comment by Phil Jones about the \u201ctrick\u201d used by Michael Mann to \u201chide the decline,\u201d in his Hockey Stick graph, referring to tree proxy temperatures\u00a0 cooling rather than warming in modern times.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate models\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate models","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-models"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2quote-star-trek-scotty.jpg?fit=1200%2C881&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2quote-star-trek-scotty.jpg?fit=1200%2C881&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2quote-star-trek-scotty.jpg?fit=1200%2C881&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2quote-star-trek-scotty.jpg?fit=1200%2C881&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2quote-star-trek-scotty.jpg?fit=1200%2C881&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":353780,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=353780","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":2},"title":"Did Fewer Clouds Contribute to This Year\u2019s Global Warming?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/10\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Some scientists are at a loss to explain the 2024 heat bump, 0.2C above what models predicted.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate models\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate models","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-models"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-Hunga-Tonga-45.webp?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-Hunga-Tonga-45.webp?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-Hunga-Tonga-45.webp?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-Hunga-Tonga-45.webp?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-Hunga-Tonga-45.webp?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":330851,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=330851","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":3},"title":"Carbon Dioxide and a Warming Climate are not problems","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/01\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The featured image for this post, also shown below, is part of figure 2 from the paper. It shows the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index compared to the detrended HadCRUT4 global average surface temperature record, the similarity is obvious. The AMO is the North Atlantic sea surface temperature record, detrended.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)\"","block_context":{"text":"Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=atlantic-multidecadal-oscillation-amo"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/0moc_diagram_f.jpg?fit=1200%2C491&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/0moc_diagram_f.jpg?fit=1200%2C491&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/0moc_diagram_f.jpg?fit=1200%2C491&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/0moc_diagram_f.jpg?fit=1200%2C491&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/0moc_diagram_f.jpg?fit=1200%2C491&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":391001,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=391001","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":4},"title":"The Warming Of 2023 Was Due To Natural Causes, Not Man-Made","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/27\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We remember: by mid-2023, the data on global temperatures had shown a very marked increase. It had gotten warmer globally quite quickly, by an incredible 0.5\u00b0C compared to 2022. This led to a new record for the year being announced in 2024. The German public television\u00a0Tagesschau\u00a0(and many other media) did\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate Catastrophe\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate Catastrophe","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-catastrophe"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0121222_cg_-tonga-hunga-volcano_feat.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0121222_cg_-tonga-hunga-volcano_feat.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0121222_cg_-tonga-hunga-volcano_feat.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0121222_cg_-tonga-hunga-volcano_feat.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0121222_cg_-tonga-hunga-volcano_feat.jpg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":301603,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=301603","url_meta":{"origin":264574,"position":5},"title":"Yes, Popular Mechanics, Scientists \u2018Have Miscalculated Our Global Warming Timeline\u2019","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/13\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Extreme weather is not becoming more common or severe, and fewer people every year are dying due to temperature and weather-related causes. Those predicting disaster from 1.5\u2103 have been wrong for decades.","rel":"","context":"In \"1.5\u00b0C limit set\"","block_context":{"text":"1.5\u00b0C limit set","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=1-5c-limit-set"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OIG-2023-08-20T200529.360.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OIG-2023-08-20T200529.360.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OIG-2023-08-20T200529.360.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/OIG-2023-08-20T200529.360.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=264574"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":264577,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264574\/revisions\/264577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/264576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=264574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=264574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=264574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}