during that extreme weather, were there crop failures? hunger? disease? migration of population? what was the impact on our population?
The first mercury thermometer was invented in 1714 A.D. The barometer was invented in 1643 A.D.
This opened up a completely new scientific realm. Weather observations grew into the science of
meteorology. One of the early American meteorologists was Charles Peirce. He meticulously recorded
temperatures at three set times per day for a span exceeding 50 years. In 1847, his weather data was
published in A Meteorological Account of the Weather in Philadelphia from January 1, 1790 to
January 1 1847.
1 Additionally, this book also contained supplementary chapters that included a
chronology of early accounts of abnormal weather observations throughout the world. This weather
chronology began over 1,800 years ago. I have combined and organized these accounts in chronological
order.
The book by Charles Peirce was the initial source of the material used in this work. All other works cited
are note numbered. Because this chronology begins almost eighteen hundred years ago, part of the
purpose of including other references was to compare them against Pierce’s chronology. Examples are
the freezing of the Black Sea in 762 A.D., the heavy rainstorms in Great Britain in (553 A.D., 918 A.D.,
1222 A.D., 1233 A.D., 1330 A.D., 1338 A.D., and 1348 A.D.), and the winters in which the River
Thames froze in London.
At least that was the original intent! But as I delved deeper into validating the chronology given by
Charles Peirce, I came across so many other different but complementary chronologies, I just found it
hard to resist the desire of combining them into a greater global weather chronology. As a result, I just let
this work go where it may and I followed.
The focus of this paper is early (historic) weather events. The chronology cuts off at the year 1900 A.D.
Recent weather events are fairly well documented. Excluded from the chronology are events caused by
man (such as the 1642 Kaifeng flood which killed 300,000 Chinese, and the 1938 Yellow River flood that
caused 500,000 Japanese/Chinese fatalities) and events caused by other non-weather related catastrophes
(such as tsunami waves caused by earthquakes/volcanoes). The chronology does include major volcano
induced global cooling events.
This chronology begins at 0 A.D. A few of the source chronologies actual date some weather events as
far back as 1,800 B.C. I have left these out of this chronology because the further one goes back in time,
the less certain the dates. This is because these chronologies use calendars (such as AM – Anno Mundi),
and the events in many cases were derived using a variety of ancient calendars systems. And date
uncertainty is introduced in calendar conversion. This is also due to the inexactness within the narrative
descriptions.
Why is a chronological listing of weather events of value? If one wishes to peer into the future, then a
firm grasp of the past events is a key to that gateway. This is intrinsically true for the scientific
underpinnings of weather and climate.
6 A.D. A famine struck Rome, Italy.
57, 91
7 A.D. There was a great flood in the valley of Thames in England; many persons were drowned and
cattle destroyed.47, 92
[Other sources place this event in the year 9 A.D.] The Thames destroyed a great number of the
inhabitants of its banks, 9 years after Christ.40, 41, 43
9 A.D. There was a great overflow of River Humber in England, flooding the country all round.47, 92
In the 43rd year of Augustus Caesar, a terrible famine struck Rome, Italy. Augustus sent away not only
strangers but also most of his servants out of the city.72
10 A.D. – 15 A.D. Ireland.
In Ireland, general fruitlessness [poor harvest], gave rise to famine and great mortality.57, 91
14 A.D. There was a great overflow of River Severn in England, causing great damage.47, 92
Also refer to the section 14 A.D. – 15 A.D. for information on the famine in Ireland during that timeframe.
15 A.D. In Rome, Italy, the Tiber River overflowed and did such serious damage that it was proposed in
the Roman Senate to diminish its waters by diverting some of the chief tributaries.47, 92
Also refer to the section 14 A.D. – 15 A.D. for information on the famine in Ireland during that timeframe.
29 A.D. There was a great overflow of River Trent in England.
47, 92
33 A.D. There was a great overflow of River Dee in England, caused great damage at Chester.47, 92
37 A.D. There was an overflow of River Medway in England, and many cattle drowned.47, 92
42 A.D. In Judea [Israel], the area was desolated by a famine.57, 91
Awful famine in Egypt in 42 A.D.90
43 A.D. In the year 43, a violent storm almost destroyed Emperor Claudius near the islands of the
southern coast of France [Claudius sailed from Rome to visit England. He was almost shipwrecked
twice, first off the Ligurian coast and then near Isles d’Hyères. The storms were caused by the
penetrating cold wind, known as the mistral.]79
46 A.D. In Syria, there was a very great famine.72
48 A.D. The River Thames in England flooded and 10,000 drowned
The River Thames in England overflowed. The water extended through four counties. 10,000 people
drowned and there was much damage to property.47, 92
50 A.D. There was a severe winter in England and all rivers and lakes froze from November to April.28
51 A.D. A great famine in Greece.
57, 72, 91
52 A.D. A great famine struck Rome, Italy.
72
54 A.D. A grievous famine struck England.
57, 91
68 A.D. [In England, there was a volcanic eruption followed by an inundation of the sea [tsunami]. The
Isle of Wight separated from Hampshire.92]
70 A.D. Tacitus reports that an unprecedented drought took place in the year 70. There was no water in
the north of Gaul and the Rhine River in Germany was barely seaworthy [because of the low water
level].79
76 A.D. A famine caused great scarcity in Ireland.
57, 91
79 A.D. – 88 A.D. Italy.
There was a terrible period of suffering from 79 to 88 A.D. when the Roman world seemed to be shaken
to its physical foundations. A devastating drought and famine swept over the Italian peninsula. It is said
that 10,000 citizens died in a single day at Rome during its height. Tacitus left a grim picture of the
distress and suffering. Houses were filled with dead bodies and the streets with funerals.84
80 A.D. There was a great overflow of River Severn in England; many people and cattle were
drowned.40, 41, 43, 47, 92
Also refer to the section 79 A.D. – 88 A.D. for information on the drought and famine in Italy during that timeframe.
86 A.D. In 86 A.D., there was a great overflow of River Medway in England; causing a loss of life.47, 92
[Another source place this flood in the year 87.] In the year 87, the Medway overflowed its banks, and
drowned the country.40, 43
Also refer to the section 79 A.D. – 88 A.D. for information on the drought and famine in Italy during that timeframe.
95 A.D. The Humber River in England overflowed and laid the adjacent country for 50 miles (80
kilometers) under water.40, 41,43, 47, 92
115 A.D. There was an overflow of River Severn in England; a great loss of life and cattle.47, 92
The River Severn in England overflowed and drowned 5,000 head of cattle and people in their
125 A.D. There was an overflow of River Humber in England.
41, 43, 47
[Another reference give the year as
123 A.D.40]
130 A.D. A great hailstorm struck England with hailstones 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter.28
In England, there were a hailstorm with hailstones 12 inches “about”, fatal to people and cattle.57, 93
131 A.D. In Dorsetshire England, there was an inundation of the sea, which came 20-miles inland. Great
loss of life and property.47, 92
134 A.D. A severe winter struck England and the River Thames was frozen for 2 months.28
The River Thames in England frozen for two months.47, 93
153 A.D. England experienced three months of frost and the River Thames froze.28
The River Thames and all rivers in England frozen nearly three months.47, 93
167 A.D. A great inundation of the Tiber River in Italy.
72
173 A.D. In England, three month’s frost followed by dearth.47, 93
A famine struck England after severe frost and snow.57, 91
207 A.D. In England, hail, “bigger than ducks’ eggs.” 57, 93
214 A.D. The River Trent in England, flooded and overflowed its banks 20 miles (32 kilometers) on each
side and drowned many people.
28, 40, 41, 43
In England, the Trent valley overflowed. Great destruction, extending 20 miles from normal course of
stream.47
218 A.D. In Northumberland, England, there was a great flood of the River Tweed; much damage. 47, 92
In England, the River Tweed had a sudden inundation, and destroyed a considerable number of the
inhabitants on its banks.40, 41, 43
220 A.D. The winter was very severe in England in 220 A.D. with a frost lasting five months.28, 40, 41, 42, 43
In Britain, frost lasted five months continuously.47, 92
[Another source places this event in the year 202, which I believe is a misprint.] The winter in 202 was
intensely cold for four months. The River Thames in England was frozen for 9 weeks.1
.250 A.D. In England, the River Ouse in Bedfordshire overflowed and drowned many people and
cattle.40, 41, 43, 47
The winter was very similar to the winter of 220 A.D. and the River Thames in England was frozen for
approximately the same length of time.1
The River Thames in England frozen nine weeks.2, 40, 41, 43, 47, 93
Severe winter struck England. The River Thames was frozen for 9 weeks.28
264 A.D. In Britain, hail; each stone one pound or above in weight.57, 93
268 A.D. In England, the River Humber overflowed and did great damage.47, 92 [Other sources place this
flood in the year 269.
40, 43]
271 A.D. Of Rome in 484, or in the year 271 of the Christian era, the winter was so severe, that the snow
covered the square in Rome, Italy to a height of several feet for 40 days.
276 A.D. In the year 276, the climate in Britain was significantly warmer than present. Wines were first
made in Britain in this year.128
277 A.D. In London, England, a storm killed several people.40, 41, 43, 56
288 A.D. A famine struck all through Britain.
57, 91
Winter of 290 / 291 A.D. The winter was very similar to the winter of 220 A.D. and the River Thames in
England was frozen for approximately the same length of time.1
Most of the rivers in Britain frozen six weeks.
2, 40, 41, 43, 47, 93
The winter in England was very cold. Most rivers froze for 6 weeks.28
298 A.D. In Wales, there was a great drought.47
A famine struck Wales.
57, 91
299 A.D. Towards 299, the winter was very harsh in the north of Gaul [During the time of Ancient
Rome, Gaul was a region of Western Europe encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and
Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands
and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine.].
62
300 A.D. - 336 A.D. Cyprus
In Cyprus, there was a thirty-six year drought; expelled all the inhabitants.47
The great island of Cyprus was 36 years without rain. A great famine ensued. Inhabitants forsook the
island and fled.72
301 A.D. In the winter, the Black Sea was frozen entirely over.
1
In Winchester, England, there was a major storm.40, 41, 56
Also refer to the section 300 A.D. – 336 A.D. for information on the drought and famine in Cyprus during that
timeframe.
323 A.D. In England, the inhabitants of Ferne Island off the coast of Northumberland were destroyed by
an inundation of the sea.47
In England in 323, there was a flood that destroyed all the inhabitants in Ferne Island, 7 miles southwest
of Holy Island.40,
329 A.D. The winter was severe in England. Most rivers were frozen for 6 weeks and there was deep
snow in Wales.28
341 A.D. The snow in Britain was 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep and stayed on the ground for 6 weeks.28
344 A.D. In England, hailstorm, “stones much bigger than hens’ eggs.” 41, 43, 56, 57, 93
349 A.D. In England, 420 houses in Carlisle, blown down by a storm and many people killed.40, 41, 43, 56
352 A.D. In England, the Severn valley flooded; great loss.47, 92 [Other sources place this flood in the
year 350.
40, 43]
353 A.D. In 353, there was an inundation in Cheshire, England by which 3,000 persons and an
innumerable quantity of cattle perished.90
354 A.D. In 354 in northern Gaul, the spring rains, were more frequent than usual, causing the streams to
swell.79
355 A.D. The harsh winter of 355 in northern Gaul caused a large number of people to freeze to death.79
Winter of 356 / 357 A.D. During the winter of 356-357 in northern Gaul, the Meuse River was frozen
during the months of December and January. The winter had been preceded by a hot, dry summer.79
357 A.D. The summer drought of 357 allowed individuals to ford and cross the Rhine River in
Germany.
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