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| <<<<1300 - 1399 |
(T: warm/cold events; R: dry/wet events; S: 'stormy' events)
| Date | T | R | S | Description | Ref: |
| 1400 - 1499 | |||||
| 1407/08 (Winter) |
The severe winter affected most of Europe, and is regarded by climatologists as one of the most severe on record. The frost lasted for 15 weeks and people were able to walk across the frozen Thames. According to Ian Currie (a noted authority on historical weather events), "one of the most snowy & was of outstanding duration". [ In Europe, ice in the Baltic had allowed traffic between the Scandinavian nations, and wolves had passed over the ice from Norway to Denmark.] | 8, usw | |||
| 1410 | In this year, the tidal River Thames froze over for 14 weeks. (I think, given the length mentioned, that we have to assign this to winter 1409/10) | x | |||
| 1413 (April) |
Henry V crowned at Westminster Abbey on
April 9th (OS); the ceremony was marked by a very bad snow storm, but people
were unable to decide if this was a bad omen or a good one. [ This may not too significant at this time, as we are approaching one of two 'troughs' in the "Little Ice Age".] |
8, TREF |
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| 1413 (August) |
10th August 1413 (OS)/19th August (NS): southerly storm of blown sand which obliterated the medieval town of Forvie on the east coast of Scotland north of Aberdeen. Apparently there would have been an historically 'unusually extreme low tide' which would tie in with the event; notwithstanding this comment, Lamb has reservations about the date, but not of course the event. There was also, apparently, a 'stormy' period on this coast in the period 1401 to 1404, and therefore the 1413 storm may simply have been 'one storm too many'! | 23 | |||
| October 1415 | Battle of Agincourt (NE France): on the eve of the battle, heavy rain fell and the battleground became water-logged & sodden - this impeded the forces opposing Henry V (particularly those more heavily armoured). Implies that the weather must have been wet for some time before. | sev. | |||
| 1421 (November) |
Notable storm / coast flooding North Sea region. On November 18th, 1421, the south-western part of Holland was inundated: 72 villages were destroyed, 10000 people drowned. (Given the proximity to the English SE coast, this event must have had some impact here, but I have no details as yet.) | 1, 7 | |||
| 1422/1423 (Winter) |
A severe winter in western Europe / implies parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1423 | A wet year. (London/South) | 8 | |||
| 1426 | A dry year. (London/South) | 8 | |||
| 1428 | A wet year. (London/South) | 8 | |||
| 1430's | Majority of winters, [ perhaps 7 or 8 ] contained several weeks of widespread severe weather (NB: 'weeks', not the paltry 'days' we get end 20th / early 21st centuries.) According to Lamb, an experience not repeated / matched until the 1690's, in the depth of the Little Ice Age (and certainly not in modern times). | 1 | |||
| 1431/1432 (Winter) |
A cold (possibly severe) winter in western Europe / implied parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1434/35 (may be 1433/34) (Winter) |
A very severe winter: the Thames froze solid (from December to February) and was closed to shipping from Gravesend to below London Bridge, and wine had to be transported overland (or over the ice-covered Thames) from Gravesend to London. [ Some sources have this as 1433/34 ] | 1, 8 | |||
| 1438 | Gale on 23rd November did much damage in London. | 8 | |||
| 1439 | A wet year. | 8 | |||
| 1442/1443 (Winter) |
A cold winter western Europe / implied parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1st February 1444 | St. Paul's cathedral was struck by lightning and the steeple was set on fire. (see also 1561) | 8 | |||
| 1445 (March) |
Margaret (of Anjou) [ future Queen-Consort to Henry VI ] crossed the Channel in March 1445 - in horrendous weather; She crossed from Cherbourg to Portsmouth - as they approached the English coast, a storm blew up (probably a thunderstorm associated with a rapidly developing area of low pressure), and the ship wallowed in 'mountainous seas'. The ship was guided with much difficulty through the Needles Channel to run before the SW wind towards Portsmouth, but the ship was dis-masted and it was beached near Porchester. The storm (i.e. the main area of low pressure) continued for several days, uprooting trees, killing cattle in the fields, causing rivers to overflow and flood low-lying ground. Much damage to roofs and deaths were reported. | x | |||
| 1446 | Notable storms / coast flooding this year in the North Sea region (Lamb): In April, 1446 in particular, a North Sea storm occurred coupled with a significant tidal surge. "Thousands" died in coastal areas of the North Sea. | 1 | |||
| 1448 | Thames flooded Poplar, Stepney and other placed during March. Not known if this is due to a storm-surge or heavy rain (or a combination of both). | 8 | |||
| 1457/1458 (Winter) |
A cold winter in western Europe / implied parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1460 | The wet summer was claimed to be one of the worst for 100 years. | 8 | |||
| 1464/1465 (Winter) |
A cold winter over western Europe / implied parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1473-1479 | Droughts with very hot summers occurred in the three successive years 1473-1475; assumed to be applicable to South/Central England only. (In the period 1473-1479, there were 5 fine summers in this seven year period: 1473, 1474, 1475, 1477 & 1479). | 8 | |||
| 1480/1481 (Winter) |
A cold winter in western Europe / implied parts of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb) | 1 | |||
| 1483 (October) |
An extraordinary flood of the Severn (near Worcester) in October prevents the Duke of Buckingham from crossing to attack Richard III, the duke's army disperses, and he is taken and beheaded. | (var) | |||
| 1485 | |||||
| 1488 | Great snow & frost (where, when ??) | 8 | |||
| 1490 | Drought (London/South). | 8 | |||
| 1498 | A dry year (in London/South) | 8 |
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