The Philosophy of the Weather. And a Guide to Its Changes

by T. B. Butler

1st. It rarely blows with any considerable force beneath the trade while there are storm clouds, or any considerable condensation in it. It does not interfere with that reciprocal action which takes place between the trade and the earth, during approaching or existing storms. I have frequently seen it with its peculiar scud clouds in the N. W., waiting for the storm condensation of the trade to pass by, that full of positive electricity it might commence its sports; rushing and eddying along the surface, licking up the warm, south polar, electric rain, which stood in pools upon the ground, or rose in steamy vapor from the surface, and with its cool breath dry up the muddy roads as no degree of heat can dry them.

The annexed figure (14) shows the appearance of the northern edge of a stratus storm cloud, passing off E. N. E. at the close of the storm, which was “clearing off from the north-west.” It is from a daguerreotype view, looking W. N. W., taken at eight o’clock in the morning, in the fall of the year. Near the horizon maybe seen the N. W. scud, forming in the N. W. wind, which is about to follow the retreating edge of the storm cloud.

Figure 15 is from a daguerreotype view, taken at eleven o’clock the same day, when the storm cloud had passed off and its edge remained visible only south of the zenith, and the north-east scud had risen up and covered the northern half of the sky, and the wind was blowing a gale from that quarter.

Fig. 14.

Another view was taken about two P.M. of the same day, when the scud had a very dark, gloomy appearance—as dark and gloomy as those of a Mexican norther—too dark to represent by a cut.

Not unfrequently in a moist summer season, after a day of showers or rain, which have had an extending formation or lateral extension from north to south, it will commence blowing in the morning, and encourage the hay-maker with the hope of fine weather. But often before noon, the milky stratus condensation above with cumuli below, will appear in the trade; the N. W. wind die away and variable airs from the east or south appear, to be followed toward night by an enlargement of the cumuli and showers. It rarely, if ever, blows fresh till the storm condensation of the trade has passed; or continues to blow after that condensation reappears. When it commences blowing after a storm, and the northern edge of the storm is not over us, we may frequently see the latter low down in the S. E. passing eastward.

Fig. 15.

NORTH VIEW.