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 = 1st and 3rd
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.
1st
first qtr; 9th full moon; 17th last qtr; 24th
new moon; 31st first qtr
Tue
1st 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
2nd 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
3rd 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
4th 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
5th 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
6th 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 7th 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
8th 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
9th 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
10th 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
11th 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
12th 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
13th 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
14th 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
15th 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 16th 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
17th 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 18th 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
19th 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
20th 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 21st 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 22nd 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 23rd 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 24th 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
25th 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
26th 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
27th 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 28th 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 29th 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
30th 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
31st 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.
