135
THE MID-ESSEX WIND-RUSH AND WHIRL-
WIND OF 27th OCTOBER 1916.
By MILLER CHRISTY.
[Read 24th February 1917.]
THIS storm was not extensive when compared with some
storms of the kind which have been recorded. Its course,
from start to finish, was no more than a few miles and it was
very narrow. Yet it was of extreme violence (passing in about
a minute), and it did a surprising amount of damage. I know
nothing of it from personal observation, as I was away from
home at the time of its occurrence. I have put together the
following from what I have since seen of its effects, from informa-
tion supplied to me by some who witnessed it, and from a good
report in the Essex County Chronicle.
In regard to the general meteorological conditions which
existed on the day in question and may be held to throw light
on the inception of this storm, the late Mr. William Marriott,
F.R.Met.Soc, was good enough to write me:—
The weather reports show that, at 7 a.m., a deep depression lay over
the British Isles, the centre being over the South of Ireland. This caused
heavy gales in the west and strong winds over the whole of the country.
By 6 p.m., the centre of the depression was over the Irish Sea, and there
were still gales and strong winds prevalent over most of the country.
Of greater interest (because more local) are the records taken
at 9 a.m., at the East Anglian Institute of Agriculture, Chelms-
ford, for which I am indebted to the Principal, Mr. R. M,
Wilson, B.Sc.:—
Temperatures:—Dry bulb, 48; wet bulb, 47; maximum for previous
day, 54; minimum, 33; maximum for day, 53.
[Barometer:—Not noted.]
Wind :—Direction, south; force (0-12), 4.
Cloud:—Amount (0-10), 10; direction whence coming, south.
Weather :—At time of observation, dull; since last observation, fair;
for the 27th, stormy.
Rain :—24 hours ending 9 a.m. on 28th., 10.1 mm.
It is to be feared, however, that these observations are not
sufficiently local to throw much light on the immediate causes
of the storm.
I have traced the route of the storm carefully, almost yard
by yard, from start to finish. It extends over a little less than
five miles, almost wholly in the very large parish of Writtle