Weather's Personalities

The National Weather Service's first issued forecast occurred on 1 November 1870, forecasting windy weather for Chicago, Illinois.  In 1871, the first public weather forecast was issued.  Historians consider John Jeffries one of America's first meteorologists.  Born 5 February 1744, Jeffries was a Boston physician who kept detailed records of weather conditions.  Thus began America's interest with weather.

I read Erik Larson's Issac's Storm a few years ago which details Issac Cline, Texas' chief weatherman in 1900, and the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.  I originally chose the book because of the Bolivar Lighthouse's and keeper Harry C. Claiborne's roles in the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.  I learned many new historical events, but what seemed to keep my attention most, was the way the people reacted to the initial storm.  People enjoyed the warm weather and went in to the water to swim and surf.  Cline measured and timed the swells, and initially offered no warnings to the people.  When the danger warnings went out, with wanton hubris, many ignored them.  Over 8,000 people died in the storm.

Last year, I read the book Halsey's Typhoon by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin.  In heartrending detail the book outlines the damage, destruction, and heroic survival of the US Navy's 3rd Fleet in December 1944 in the Philippine Sea.  The detail that sticks with me most is the high probability that two fishermen witnessed the birth of Typhoon Cobra.  They observed the very mild winds that kicked up from the sea that would form the typhoon.  That fact is jaw-dropping and leaves me in total awe.

We all have watched weather forecasts and observed those blue lines with triangles indicating cold fronts and their directional movement and red lines with bubbles indicating warm fronts and their directional movements.  Technology vastly improved forecasting so that forecasters can accurately estimate a front's or storm's arrival.  So, what is it like to be present at the beginning of a weather event?  I never thought about it beyond the Issac's Storm and Halsey's Typhoon events, until today.

I have a beautiful Red-flowering Dogwood Tree.  I thought it would be slow growing and stay relatively small.  I was wrong.  Originally, I planted it in a small bed near the porch and side-door entrance.  The tree grew really fast and branched out so much so, that when people walked in and out of the house, the Dogwood attacked them.  The Texas heat is not kind or forgiving to plants, shrubbery, and trees.  Last year, I observed daily the location on the east side of the house that received the least amount of summer sun so the tree could be replanted in predominant summer shade.  

Enjoying the 70 degree temperatures, calm winds, and warmth, Saturday, Cody and I dug the hole for the tree.  Today, Cody and I relocated the tree.  We knew that an Arctic Polar blast is headed our way bringing the coldest temperatures of the year and precipitation on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We figured this was the best time to re-plant, hopefully ensuring the tree's survival.  As we began to fill the hole, we both stopped work.  Not smell, not sight, not feel, but instead, we heard the cold front's arrival.  It was very strange that we heard it, before we felt it.  Winds about 30 feet above the ground changed, and that is what we heard.  The winds blew from the south until the change; then, there was a hard push from the east, as next indicated by the flags blowing and the feel of the winds on our bodies.  The air was still very warm.  About two minutes later, the winds blew from the north, northwest and were noticeably cooler.  We were still filling in the hole, but temperatures cooled, then stabilized for about 20 minutes, and then continued to drop.  Unfortunately, the sun's warmth and blue sky are gone, and calm, but very cool winds doth blow.  I wonder what I will remember of the storm's beginning as the harsh weather conditions descend upon us this week?