1600_1649

(T: warm/cold events; R: dry/wet events; S: 'stormy' events)

Date	T	R	S	Description	Ref:
				*1600 - 1649*
April 1600				24th: a deep snowfall (no details as to location).	6
1601				Storm in London on 1st February.	8
1602				Drought in autumn & winter (London/South).	8
1603
January 1607 [1606 in reckoning of the time.]				Flood: 2,000 died around the Severn Estuary, Tuesday, 20 January 1606 (OS)/30th January 1607 (NS). Lowlands on both sides of the Estuary suffered inundation, with the Somerset & Gwent levels suffering devastating effects. It is thought that a Severe gale from the west or southwest was responsible, coupled to an astronomically high tide: the excess over prediction was some 2.3m. As well as the cost in human life, much damage / loss of housing etc., and also cattle, sheep & horses perished. There would have been a great deal of salt-contamination of arable fields too. Bristol & Barnstaple were badly affected. It is worth noting that great damage due to flooding was also recorded from East Anglian towns and villages, particularly across the Fens. ('Weather'/Oct 2006/Horsburgh & Horritt) [ There is some debate whether this event was a 'standard' wind-driven storm-surge, or a Tsunami-like occurrence. Contemporary accounts mention 'high tides' & 'strong west winds', so I would plump for the more likely storm-surge cause.] [confusion with dates: although listed in original documents as January 1606, the 'year' 1606 would have run from March 1606 to March 1607 (in our reckoning).]	TORRO, R. Met.S
1607				Dry/hot summer (London/South).	8
1607/08 (Winter)				The '*Great Winter': apparently, trees died due to the severity (and length) of the frost; ships were stranded by ice several miles out into the North Sea - this latter a major concern as much commerce was done in these days via coastal shipping. In December, a "deep" frost until mid-month, then a thaw until just before Christmas, then from ~21st December(OSP) intense freeze for much of the time until at least mid-January. Ice formed on the Thames in London, sufficient to bear all sorts of sports, perambulations and even cooking! The frost lasted overall for some two months. (much of the foregoing from Ian Currie). The severe weather lasted in parts of England until about 20th February(OSP), though with variations in depth of cold. For example, in records from Kendal (Westmorland / Cumbria) 'hard frost' is noted from November 3rd, 1607 to March 6th, 1608(OSP). The Firth of Forth is noted as being 'frozen' during January 1608 & the River Exe (south of Exeter) also experienced major ice formation by the latter-third of January - at this latter location, damage was caused to a local weir. (* lots of winters will be found in the literature known as "The Great Winter": treat this title with some caution, however, in a series developed by C.Easton, in CHMW / Lamb, this ranks near the top of the most severe winters of the last 1000 yr.	1, 6, 8, usw
1609/10 (Winter)				Great frost commenced in October & lasted four months. Thames frozen and heavy carriages driven over it. (Possible confusion with 1607/08).	8, LWH
1610				Hot, dry summer (London/South).	8
1612 (winter / spring)				Drought from January to May (London/South). The extended period of dry weather was apparently widespread over England at least, with that affecting the Lake District noted as not breaking until early August.	8
1614/1615 (winter/early spring)				Several reports of 'great snowfall' from various parts of the country; for example, from Derbyshire, a major snowfall began on the 20th January(OSP) and further new snowfall was noted until at least 12th March(OSP); great snowfall was also recorded across Yorkshire. Further north, in Scotland, this winter was noted as being of 'great severity' (Annals of Scottish History), & by February, the Tay was frozen over, such that foot and horse traffic could pass over it. An 'enormous' fall of snow took place early in March (place unspecified), but this ties in with the Derbyshire report [above]. In Scotland, this was stated to have lasted at least three days, to be the greatest 'within living memory' and many deaths (horses and men) occurred as people tried to move about. It was particularly bad across northern Scotland.	(LWH & others)
1615 (spring)				Following the heavy snowfall as noted above, significant flooding ensued following thaw (& presumably heavy rain - you tend to need a high-yield rainfall event for significant flooding after snow), with Yorkshire being particularly badly hit. The Ouse flood lasted around 10 days, carrying away bridges - the dates are not given, but as April was noted as being fair/dry with a dusty ground and significant drought (until late summer), then the melt-event probably followed the final snowfall in the second week of March.	x
1615 (May)				1st (C? / OSP & probably 'May Day' - it might not have attracted notice otherwise!) A late snowfall; Snow to 1 foot (~30cm) depth reported from Derbyshire. [ The problem here is that there are parts of Derbyshire today that would get a useful snowfall on May 1st - particularly in the Peak District villages, so it is difficult to know how significant this report is. ]	LWH
1616				Hot summer with drought (London/South).	8
1616 (September)				River Aire flooded houses in Leeds (Yorkshire) after 38 hours of rain.	x
1620/21 (Winter)				Frost fair held on the Thames. A severe winter over western Europe / implied much of Britain. (Easton, in CHMW/Lamb)	1, 8
1622 (August)				August 18th(C?) - An "extreme & vehement" storm struck the Tamar Valley. (Devon Co. C web site) [ No other details, i.e. thunderstorm, wind-storm etc., so it is difficult to decide the character of this: it may be akin to the Boscastle storm of 2004 August q.v., given the topography of the areas which drain into the Tamar valley. ]	x
1625 (October)				October 13th(?C / OSP) - At Tiverton, 53 houses were thrown down and destroyed by a great flood of water.(Devon Co.C website) [ Again, no great detail, but given the month, it suggests an exceptional rain-storm following a prolonged period of autumnal rains soaking the ground. ]	x
1626				Dry, hot summer (London/South).	8
1630-1637 (or 1638) (Summers)				Series of dry / warm summers, particularly 1636, 1637 & (perhaps) 1638. (LW); For 1636, in the London/SE area, it is noted as a 'very hot & dry summer, not a drop of rain from March to August.	8
1635				Severe winter; Thames frozen.	8
Mar-Sep 1636				Extended dry / drought period began 1st March 1636: by September, serious drought effects. Noted as completely rain-less in 'London Weather' from March to August.	6, 8
1636-1638				Three successive fine summers (possibly): see also entry Mar-Sep 1636 above.	8
October 1638				Tornadoes in Devon & Somerset: Sunday October 21st(OS) / October 31st(NS): at Widecombe-in-the-Moor (Devon) on the south-eastern flank of Dartmoor. A tornado struck a church with the 'utmost violence' as a service had just begun. A ball of fire moved through the church with a thunderous explosion. The roof and tower were wrecked, stone and masonry showered down both inside and outside the building. The tornado / ball lightning killed and maimed scores of men and women - and a dog. People were snatched from the pews and whirled about. About 60 people were either killed or injured. All this took place within a few seconds.	6, LWH
1643				Hot summer (London/South).	8
January 1644				31st: 8-day snowfall 31st January to 7th February.	6
1645				Hot / dry summer (London/South).	8
1645-1710				"The Maunder Minimum": Period of notably reduced solar activity. Possibly contributing to (or adding to), the downturn in temperatures during this period (though note, there were also some very warm summers, e.g. 1645!)	x
1646 (May)				31st May, 1646 (new-style converted): Notable outbreak of tornadoes in eastern England. Specifically Thetford / Newmarket, (Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk); Brandon Parva (Norfolk) and Swaffham Prior (Cambridgeshire). At least three different tornadoes involved. It was a notably hot day ("violent hot day"), with severe thunderstorms, heavy rain & large hail. The hail is noted as being of "extraordinary size", and "some hollow within like rings".	(JMet/TORRO)
1648				Very wet, but probably not as wet as 1258 & 1527. The summer in particular was described as worse than several of the past winters (i.e. 'cold & wet').	8
1648/49 (Winter)				Great frost; Thames frozen.	8

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