November 1818 Trees In Full Blossom, Second Crop Of Apples....

[Weather-history]

Until 1994, November 1818 was the mildest November ever recorded for the CET with a value of 9.5, the previous November of 1817 was exceptionally mild as well with a CET of 9.1

The autumn of 1818 was very mild with a CET of 11.6 and it had an interesting effect on vegetation.

"The few nocturnal frosts that occurred in the present season, up to the middle of December were so slight as to permit the nasturtiums to continue to vegetate: other indications of the mildness of the season were equally striking. I observed a horse-chestnut with tufts of new leaves and blossoms put forth from the ends of the branches all over the tree."

"The extraordinary growth of mushrooms, this autumn, makes a kind of second harvest for the industrious poor in most parts of the islands, some of whom have gathered from three to five pecks daily."

"John Foster of newton near Carlisle, has a single tree in his orchard which has, this year, produced ten thousand apples."

"An apple tree in the garden of D. Sutton at Kensington, is now covered with a secnd full crop of apples and there are several others in the same garden which have also produce this year, though not in such abundance."

Stockholm: Nov 17:- The uncommonly serene and mild autumnal weather still continues and now supplies us in abundance with garden produce, of which we were deprived during the summer by the great drought. To be without fire in the stoves and to have meadows covered with verdure instead of snow; is a strange phenomenon here in the month of November."

"A thorn tree growing in the lawn of Shugborough, the seat of Lord Anson, is now in full blossom and the whole tree presents a May-like appearance." Dec 1st

"In the garden of G. Dickson, of Cousland, Berwickshire, a tulip-tree in full blossom, which is the second time it was ever known to be in that state. The last time this tree was in blossom was in the year 1720, 98 years ago." Dec 2nd

"Among the many instances of the extraordinary temperature of the present season, may be mentioned that from the garden of Thomas Newton of Clapham Common, green peas of full growth were gathered a day or two ago, and the haulm still now in full blossom."

Temperatures recorded at Tottenham for November 1818 (1st value is maxima; 2nd value is minima)

1. 58f, 45f

2. 60f, 51f

3. 61f, 42f

4. 56f, 48f

5. 60f, 52f

6. 58f, 50f

7. 51f, 35f

8. 52f, 42f

9. 52f, 44f

10. 50f, 45f

11. 53f, 41f

12. 57f, 41f

13. 66f, 46f

14. 57f, 43f

15. 52f, 41f

16. 47f, 41f

17. 47f, 31f

18. 47f, 34f

19. 50f, 35f

20. 45f, 36f

21. 40f, 37f

22. 50f, 34f

23. 54f, 43f

24. 46f, 30f

25. 50f, 32f

26. 54f, 48f

27. 54f, 48f

28. 57f, 48f

29. 58f, 46f

30. 57f, 46f

[Radiating Dendrite]

A very interesting article once again!

I do enjoy your contributions to the forum Mr Data.

I notice that 1994 had a higher CET than 1818, but did this have a similar impact on Plants and Vegetation (in terms of late fruit, blossom etc)?

I was only eight, so obviously I do not have a clue

[Optimus Prime]

Nice article. Wonder what the growing season was like in 2006 for comparison? Every month in Autumn that year was consistently warm.

[Summer of 95]

In Nov 1994 I remember for some reason a news report on the mildness, during which they reported from Kew gardens and the correspondent went up to a tree, showed a close-up of a branch on which buds were sprouting and said "This (whatever) tree thinks it's March"; the report continued with an explanation of it being caused by warm air constantly being funnelled up from the Canaries and concluded with them saying "Nothing to do with global warming, it's just... a freak!" (Pretty sure this was BBC news, either 6 or 9 o'clock).

What I really remember most about autumn 1994 is that daytime temperatures hardly seemed to change from early September until the middle of December; nearly always about 14C plus or minus 3 for three months on end (night temps as well were similar for the most part, barring a couple of nights in October when it did get down to freezing, which it never did in Nov); it felt really "not right" when you expect them to drop by 10-15C on average in this period, with it being apparent even in the most consistently mild or cold autumns; the year before had the coldest for about 40 years yet maxima still fell from 15ish in mid-September to around 0 in late November. Even the recent very warm Octobers have never produced a 1994 effect- it's always cooled substantially in November.

[Weather-history]

Newspaper accounts on the state of vegetation from November/December 1818

 

[Roger J Smith]

Interesting. This was perhaps the second warmest Oct-Nov combo after 2011, and both years had 9.5 C for their Nov (v2.0) means in the CET series.

I looked up daily temps for Dec 1818 and it turned quite cold after mid-month, mean daily for 17th was -3.0 C.