here's a snippet from the weather book 1811-1820 ....

1811

The Thames was frozen over during January.

Readings: max/min temperature; barometric pressure average unless significant drop/rise. Bristol, temperature at 8am and noon.

Comet visible in Europt from near the middle of March to end of May, visible again first June in Leo Minor, and flare under square of Ursa Major in mid September, the tail in Draco and Ursa minor. Expectation of being seen to the end of the year.

Shorthand for moon phases: NM = new moon,  ½ M = 1^st and 3^rd quarter, FM = full moon.

January

Monthly precipitation 1.21” rain and snow in London.  First week tempestuous weather and hurricanes, much wreckage on the South coast.

1^st first qtr; 9^th full moon; 17^th last qtr; 24^th new moon; 31^st first qtr

Tue 1^st ½ M           London:  30 °F/ 24 °F; 30.2”;  NNE wind and snow

                                Essex: 28 °F / 24 °F;  29.75” ;NE  snowy; snow to depth of 2” fell during day

                                Manchester:35/30 °F;30.4” N , calm cloudy

Taunton: dull morning and hard frost; had had snow overnight, and very slippery from freezing as it fell.

Bristol 26/28 °F; 30.15”, cloudy, ground covered with snow.

Modbury [nr Plymouth] 28.3 °F; 29.91”; calm. Snow on the ground, and ground frost.

Wed 2^nd                  London: 29 °F / 22 °F; 30.9”; NE snow and wind. Hazy

                                Essex: 28 °F / 23 °F; 29.55” NE snowy, snow at intervals

                                Manchester: 32/30 °F; 29.95”; N, gentle wind, snowy

                                Taunton:dull morning and intensely cold, whole day dismal.

                                Bristol: 21/23 °F; 30.00”, mostly clear

                                Modbury: 25.3 °F; 29.70”, dropped in pm. E wind. Hard frost continues. Some light falls of snow. Sky mostly hazy.

Thur 3^rd                  London: 24 °F /18 °F;  29.7”; SE to S windy and snowing

                                Essex:  28 °F / 18 °F; 29.53” variable winds snowy. Snow during morning, with wind S.

                                Manchester:33/28 °F; 29.75”; NE, gentle wind, snowy

                                Taunton: intensely cold. Hard to keep warm even by  fireside. 

                                Bristol: 21/25 °F; 29.65”; cloudy, light snow most of day

                                Modbury: 24 °F; 29.47” NE, hard frost, snow and wind

Fri 4^th                      London:  29 °F / 23 °F; 29.9”;  E  very windy and sleet.

                                Essex:  31 °F / 24 °F; 29.53”; E windy, very strong winds continuing overnight

                                Manchester: 33/27 °F; 29.98”; NE, strong wind, snowy

                                Taunton:severe cold. Too cold to go out.

                                Bristol: 18/27 °F; 29.70”; Mostly cloudy, evening tempestuous.

                                Lincolnshire, deep snow fell, causing disruption to the mail.

                                Modbury:  Thick snow, hard wind, evening cold.

                                Sheerness,Chatham, south coast, gale in the evening.

Sat 5^th                     London: 27 °F /24 °F; 29.8”;  ENE clear and windy. Blew hard overnight. Black fleeces of cumulus clouds seen floating beneath cirrus, in a calm region above

                                Essex: 28 °F /25 °F; 29.53” NE strong winds all day

                                Manchester: 31/27 °F; 30.00”; E, boisterous wind, snowy

                                Taunton: as cold as the day before.

                                Bristol: 21/22 °F; 29.70”; morning cloudy, afternoon clear, high wind.

                                Lincolnshire,  one of the most piercingly cold days ever, the mail still held up.

                                Liverpool/Irish sea, terrible storm at sea and up the R. Mersey.  South coast still blowing a gale.

                                Modbury   the same as yesterday

Sun 6^th                    London: 25 °F /22 °F; 29.9”; NE clear and windy

                                Essex:  28 °F / 23 °F; 29.5”; NE fine. Wind abated, day very fine, moon extremely bright in evening

                                Manchester: 36/30 °F; 29.83”; E, strong wind, clear

                                Taunton: very fine but intense cold. The ice not quite strong enough to skate.

                                Bristol: 23/26 °F; 29.70”; mostly cloudy, windy.

                                Lincolnshire, roads dug clear enough of snow which was in some places 6’ deep in drifts.

                                Many places saw skating on park ponds.

                                Modbury:   As yesterday and dark and cloudy

                                South coast, gale somewhat abated.

Mon 7^th London: 29 °F / 24 °F; 29.9”; E windy

Essex: 29 °F/ 24 °F; 29.53”; NE windy. Wind boisterous in morning, evening cloudy

                                Manchester: 35/30 °F; 29.89”; E, brisk wind, clear

                                Taunton: beautiful day but cold. 

                                Bristol: 22/24 °F; 29.70”; cloudy at times.

                                Modbury: hard frost, wind somewhat abated.

                                South coast, gales abated but wind still high.

Tue 8^th                    London: 27 °F /21 °F; 29.8”; E windy, cloudy. The Thames was nearly frozen.

                                Essex:29 °F/20 °F; 29.51” NE fair

Manchester:33/30 °F; 29.78”; E, brisk wind,clear

Taunton: a very fine day.

Bristol: 20/24 °F; 29.70”; cloudy

Deal, wind NE, and moderate weather. Portsmouth, wind NE. Plymouth, wind NE –E.

Modbury: Frost and snow continues, but less wind. Some hail in with the snow.

Wed 9^th FM           London:  31 °F / 17 °F;  29.9”; NE snowing, then foggy

                                Essex:30 °F/20 °F; 29.54”; NE snowy morning, some thaw in afternoon, evening cloudy.

                                Manchester: 32/28 °F; 29.69”; SE, gentle wind,clear

                                Taunton: a fine day.

                                Bristol: 21/27 °F; 29.70”; mostly cloudy.

                                Deal, wind NE; Yarmouth, SE wind has become moderate.

                                Modbury  milder- misty. Thaw then a gentle snow.

Thur 10^th                London:  32 °F;  29.95”; E fog then rain

                                Essex:42 °F/20 °F; 29.46” E cloudy. Hoar frost first thing, very thick fog.  Trees had a most beautiful appearance from the frost until afternoon when wind shifted to SE and S and thaw commenced, gentle rain in evening.

                                Manchester: 39/26 °F; 29.49; SE, brisk wind, changeable weather

                                Taunton: a very fine day. Rapid thaw at night. High humidity, and though thawing did not feel warmer.

                                Bristol: 22/35 °F; 29.70”; cloudy, afternoon rainy.

Modbury: Calm, then brisk SW. After snowing very cold. Wind died  night.

Fri 11^th                    London:  44 °F /36 °F; 29.8”; NW to SW rain then

fair. Humidity high.

Essex: 44 °F/35 °F; 29.37” S cloudy 0.36” rain.  Rainy morning.

Manchester: 40/34 °F; 29.33”; variable, calm, changeable. 0.44” rain; hail storm from the West.

Taunton: a fine looking day but damp air.

Bristol: 37/40 °F; 29.60”; cloudy at times.

Modbury fair and mild, 32.8 °F.

Sat 12^th                  London: 48 °F /35 °F; max 29.68” min 29.49”; S small rain and wind. So much humidity the doors swelled with damp. Much rain fell overnight. Strong wind.

                                Essex:48 °F/35 °F; 29.27”; S cloudy.

                                Manchester: 43/36 °F; 29.04”; S, gentle wind, rainy

                                Taunton: a completely rainy day.  Tremendous wind & loud rain.

                                Bristol: 42/47 °F; 29.35”; rain most of the day.

                                Modbury: Wet then calm in afternoon, SW wind at intervals.

Sun 13^th                 London: 37 °F ;  29.7”; SSW fog then small rain

                                Essex: 46 °F/39 °F; 29.32”; SW showery 0.36” rain

                                Manchester: 40/34 °F; 29.02”; variable, gentle wind, fine. Around midnight the barometer dropped from 29.52” to 28.78”

                                Taunton: a fine mild morning but wet after 3pm.

                                Bristol: 31/44 °F; 29.44”; cloudy at times, some showers.

                                Still cold enough for skating, but ice thin enough to break in places; 3 boys in Shropshire perished.  Thick foggy weather off south coast.

                                Modbury cloudy, some showers.

Mon 14^th                London: 50 °F /42 °F; 29.65”; SE small rain, windy

                                Essex: 50 °F/43 °F; 29.34”; variable, cloudy

                                Manchester: 43/38 °F; 29.18”; S, gentle wind, cloudy

                                Taunton: dull-looking day but mild.

                                Bristol: 42/44 °F; 29.45”; cloudy, drizzling rain at times.

                                Modbury:  mild, dark and cloudy

Tue 15^th                 London:  45 °F / 32 °F; 29.6”; SE rain, later windy and clear.

                                Essex:45 °F/32 °F; 29.40”; W cloudy 0.12” rain

                                Manchester: 41.5/36 °F; 29.15”; W, strong wind,changeable

                                Taunton: started off a very fine morning, but in the middle of the day some violent storms of hail, rain, wind and snow.

                                Bristol: 34/39 °F; 29.45”; cloudy at times, rain and hail

                                Modbury Fine snow most of day

Wed 16^th                London:38/34 °F; 29.97” ; W, fair becoming cloudy

                                Essex:46 /35 °F; 29.50”; W cloudy

Manchester: 41/35 °F; 29.38”; W, strong wind, rainy 0.4” rain

                                Taunton: a very fine day.

Bristol: 33/39 °F; 29. 80”; cloudy at times, evening some light rain.

Modbury: fair, rather cold

Thur 17^th ½ M      London:51/38 °F; 29.79”   SW, misty & windy then rain, cloudy

                                Essex:51 /39 °F; 29.37”; NW fair

Manchester: 48/40 °F; 29.38”; W, boisterous wind, rainy, 0.645” rain

Taunton: rained the whole day, very damp and uncomfortable.

                                Bristol: 46/49 °F; 29.60”; cloudy, very rainy, windy.

                                Modbury: mostly rainy

Fri 18^th                    London:41/31 °F;  29.88” SW to N overcast then clear

                                Essex: 40dF/32 °F; 29.59”; W fine

                                Manchester: 39.5/34 °F; 29.29”; W, brisk wind, hail

Taunton: a fine day with the exception of one light shower

                                Bristol: 35/39 °F; 29.60”; clear

                                Modbury: mostly fair

Sat 19^th                  London: 42/29 °F; 30.44”; N, clear.  Frost finally broken up

                                Essex:41 °F/27 °F; 29.92”; NW fine

                                Manchester:41/34 °F; 30.08”; W,gentle wind, fine

                                Taunton: a fine day.

                                Bristol: 31/39 °F; 30.20”; clear

A note that the Queen has amused herself in the late severe weather by making patchwork.

Modbury: fair and pleasant.

Sun 20^th                 London: 38/32 °F;  30.28”; S foggy at first then clear and clouds, cirrus and cirrostratus

Essex: 40 °F/30 °F; 29.78”; SE fine. White frost in morning

                                Manchester: 40/36 °F; 30.05”; W, strong wind, fine

                                Taunton: a tolerable fine day

                                Bristol: 32/41 °F; 30.20”; mostly cloudy.

                                Modbury: fair and pleasant

Mon 21^st                London:38/31 °F; SW fog then small rain

                                Essex:38 °F/31 °F;29.72”; SW cloudy

                                Manchester:41.5/32 °F; 29.88”; S, gentle wind, brilliant

                                Taunton: a very fine day, as mild as spring

                                Bristol: 39/45 °F; 29.95”; clear.

                                Modbury: fair and pleasant, but frosty at night

Tue 22^nd                 London:35/31dF;30.20” ;S, foggy

                                Essex:36 °F/31 °F; 29.73”; NW foggy

Manchester:40/28 °F; 29.97”; SE, gentle wind, fine. Strong white frost in morning

Taunton: a fine day and frosty though not severe enough to make the road hard.

Bristol: 24/40 °F; 30.00”; mostly clear

Deal, wind S.

Modbury: fair and mild, morning fog

Wed 23^rd                London:40/32 °F; 30.31” ;SW misty dull day

                                Essex: 40 °F/33 °F; 29.83” SE cloudy

Manchester: 42/33 °F; 30.21”; var., breeze, fine. Strong white frost in morning.

Taunton: very foggy morning but cleared up towards middle of the day and was tolerably fine, though cold.

Bristol: 32/41 °F; 30.05”; cloudy, rainy at times.

Modbury: morning mist, afternoon fair

Thur 24^th NM        London:40/31 °F;  30.49”; N clear

                                Essex: 39 °F/31 °F; 29.94”; N cloudy

                                Manchester:39/29 °F; 30.50”; N, breeze, cloudy

                                Taunton: a very fine day but very cold.

Bristol: 28/36 °F; 30.30”; morning clear, afternoon cloudy.

Modbury: fair and pleasant

Fri 25^th                    London: 37/26 °F; 30.53 ;E clouded start, clearing, some clouds

                                Essex: 37 °F/27 °F; 29.92”; variable, cloudy

Manchester: 34/24 °F; 30.49”; var., breeze, cloudy. 0.33” rain. Strong white frost in morning.

                                Taunton: a fine day.

                                Bristol: 31/44 °F; 30.40”; mostly clear.

                                Modbury: frosty and cold air

Sat 26^th                  London: 38/30 °F; 30.22” ; SW white frost to start, then cloudy. Increasingly cold despite SW wind

Essex: 42 °F/31 °F; 29.60”; W cloudy 0.06” rain; barometer dropped from 29.85 to 29.34

Manchester: 43/35 °F; 29.83”; S, boisterous wind, cloudy. About sunset for about 10 minutes the whole hemisphere a confused union of prismatic colours, a kind of mix of brown and crimson.  Pressure dropped an inch over the day.

                                Taunton: not very fine.

Bristol: 31/39 °F; 30.15”; cloudy, evening rainy, high wind.

Modbury: smart frosty morning then thaw, snow evening.

Firth of Forth, a new light with a tolling bell to warn shipping.

Sun 27^th                 London:43/24 °F;  29.62”; NW white frost on ground, starting clear and clouds. Arc of cirro-stratus across the zenith in direction of wind. 

                                Essex:40 °F/25 °F; 29.34”; NW cloudy

                                Manchester: 43/36 °F; 29.27”; var., breeze, cloudy

                                Taunton: a fine day.

Bristol: 38/39 °F; 29.60”; very clear, and cloudy alternately

Modbury: snow in night, day fair. Calm start

Mon 28^th                London:33/18 °F; 29.65”; NW clouded, clear later

Essex:31 °F/19 °F;29.35”; NW fair.  A little snow in the morning

                                Manchester:32/23 °F; 29.25”; N, breeze, cloudy

                                Taunton: a fine day

                                Bristol: 24/30 °F; 29.55”; mostly clear

Modbury: Frosty and ground covered with snow.  Thaw in middle of the say and fall of snow in the afternoon.

Tue 29^th                                 London: 31/14 °F; 29.70”; E, misty

                                Essex: 27 °F/14.5 °F; 29.38”; NW fine. White frost

                                Manchester:31/22 °F; 29.30”; var., breeze, cloudy

Taunton: a beautiful day but travellers to Taunton had to brave 18” of snow on the road.

Bristol: 14/27 °F; 29.60”; mostly clear

Deal, wind NW

Modbury: snow remaining and hard frost

Channel: a gale, damage to shipping.

Wed 30^th                London:32/29 °F; 29.61”; E very foggy at first, snow and wind

Essex:34 °F/21 °F; 29.1 5 [high 29.4, lo2 28.95]; N cloudy. White frost; noted that at Plaistow the thermometer was 13 °F. Wind very boisterous in evening.  About 3” snow  fell in the night, wind turned E very strong.

                                Manchester: 32.5/19 °F; 29.34”; var., brisk wind, cloudy

Taunton: a fine morning but extremely cold and very hard frost.

Bristol: 21/30 °F; 29.50”; cloudy, evening considerable snow.

                                Deal, wind E, blows hard

Modbury: Hard frost to noon, around 2pm a thaw, with it rain.

Western Scotland [around Gretna Green] a great deal of snow with intense frost. Temperature dropped to 16 °F

Thur 31^st ½ M       London: 43/34 °F; 29.13” S small rain becoming windy, much snow fell in the night.

Essex:45 °F/34 °F; 28.90”; E rainy. 0.31” rain. Rainy morning, barometer falling, evening stormy

Manchester:41/31 °F; 28.68”; E, boisterous wind, snowy, 0.39” precipitation.  Barometer fell about 10pm from 29.25” to 28. 10”

Taunton: snowed some inches deep overnight. Began to rain at breakfast time and poured all day.

Bristol: 31/37 °F; 29.05”; rain most of day.

Deal wind SW

Modbury: morning very wet. Windy and rainy afternoon, wind at night.

Western Scotland [around Gretna Green] a great deal of snow with intense frost with violent gale of wind from the west.  Edinburgh mail 7 hours behind due to amount of snow.

Newcastle, ESE wind with snow, ships driven ashore, some returned to harbour for the boisterous weather.

Rain in Bristol over month 2.62”, compared with 0.9” in 1810, 4.12” in 1809, 1.05 in 1808, 2.25” in 1807, 5.97” in 1806, 2.44” in 1805, 4.43” in 1804.