_Observations on the WEATHER in General._
The weather at _Aleppo_ differing but very little in any one year from
another, I thought it would save a great deal of unnecessary trouble, if
I gave a general account of the weather usual in every month, drawn from
a meteorological register, regularly kept, with only few intermissions,
for about ten years, and afterwards noted what was particular.
The barometer used in the following observations was _English_, and
graduated according to the measure of that country. The first column
denotes inches, the second 10ths of an inch.
The thermometers, (for, from accidents of breaking, several were used)
except for the last two years, were small portable ones, graduated
according to _Farenheit_’s scale; the other was larger, upon the same
scale. All of them were of mercury, and (as well as the barometer) made
by the accurate Mr. _Bird_ in _London_.
The situation of the instruments for the years 1743, 44, 45, and those
of 52 and 53, was in a little wooden _kiosk_[486], facing the east,
which projected over a narrow street that run south and north, with high
buildings on each side. The sun had only access by the south-window, and
that scarce an hour in the day. To this place there was a free ingress of
air, the two opposite windows, and often the whole, being constantly open
from the month of _April_ till the latter end of _October_; and in the
winter, though these windows were shut, a free access still remained by
the door, and a window which opened into a passage fronting the west, the
outer door of which in the day-time was always open. Add to this, that
these wooden kiosks have not either their wood-work, or numerous windows,
so well closed as to prevent a pretty considerable communication with the
external air through the chinks.
This is the situation which appears to be much preferable to any
other, and from which the general account of the weather is taken.
But a multiplicity of practice rendering it impossible for me to keep
the register, I was obliged to a friend, who was so kind as to take
that trouble for me; and then the thermometer was placed in a vaulted
south-room, which was defended from the west by two other rooms, and
opposite to the window a door opened into a large vaulted hall. In the
winter (particularly the forenoon) this was frequently open, and in the
summer-months was shut only by a door made of lattice-work, the window
being open all that season. In this country the rooms so situated are
remarkably warm in winter, and cool in summer.
In this last position the thermometer must be understood to be kept from
_July_ 1746 till the end of 1747. Both these situations being within
doors, were some degrees warmer than the external air in winter, as would
appear from the thermometer never sinking to the freezing point even in
time of frost; and they are cooler than the external air in summer, as I
have found by several trials. These things were necessary to be premised,
as they may account for the variations in the instrument, that are
remarkable in the different situations.
_JANUARY._
The weather in _January_ is commonly either frosty or rainy. What snow
falls is chiefly in this month; but it is in no great quantity, and does
not lie many hours. The middle of the month is its most usual time of
falling, and then it often remains frosty till the end.
Whenever rain falls, it is usually in the night, and in very heavy
showers.
The winds are moderate, and mostly from the northern or eastern quarter.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 57 Greatest 29 3 Greatest variation of therm.
Least 34 Least 28 6 in one day, 4 deg.
The most common height of the thermometer at nine in the morning is 40
and 46, and the difference between that and three in the afternoon a
gradual rise of 3 or 4 deg. In rainy days, or even such as are cloudy,
this variation seldom exceeds 1 or 2 deg. and often there is none at all;
and this observation holds through all the year.
_FEBRUARY._
This month is for the most part as rainy as the former; with this
difference, that neither rain nor fair weather continue so many days
together, but change from one to the other every four or five days. A
little snow often falls in this month, and commonly there are a few
frosty days. It is very often cloudy, though no rain falls, particularly
in the afternoon; but they are light, white clouds. At such times the air
without doors is moderately warm. The winds are much as in the preceding
month, till towards the end, and then it sometimes blows hard westerly.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 55 Greatest 29 3 Greatest difference of therm.
Least 40 Least 28 4 in one day, 8 deg.
The first fortnight, the usual morning-height of the thermometer is from
42 to 47; the variation between the morning and evening observation,
1, 2, or 3 deg. In the last fortnight, when there happens no frost, it
gradually rises to about 50, and the difference between morning and
evening commonly 4 or 5.
_MARCH._
A good deal of rain falls in the month of _March_; but it is generally in
short, hard showers, and often accompanied with thunder. At such times
the weather is dark and gloomy; but for the greater part it is clear,
only a few white light clouds. The weather begins to be hot in the open
air.
The winds are stronger than in the preceding months, and blow much
oftener westerly.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 67 Greatest 29 Difference in the thermometer
Least 44 Least 28 6 in one day, 9 deg.
The common height of the thermometer in the morning is in the beginning
of the month as in the end of the last; about the middle, 52; the end,
56 to 58. The difference between morning and evening observations become
more considerable as the month advances; in the beginning, commonly 5;
the end, 8 to 9. If it rains, the variation is very inconsiderable, as
has been mentioned before.
_APRIL._
This month is in general fair, clear weather, with white, light clouds
in the afternoon; seldom dark or cloudy, except when it rains, which it
does in hard thunder-showers as in the last month, but not so often.
There are commonly a few close, hazey days; these happen when there are
light breezes northerly or easterly; but the winds in general are fresh
westerly.
The days begin to grow very hot, but the mornings and evenings as yet
remain cool.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 82 Greatest 29 1 Difference in the thermometer
Least 51 Least 28 5 in one day, 10 deg.
The mercury in the thermometer has its morning-station gradually raised
from 60 to 66 as the month advances, and the variation 8 to 10 between
the morning and evening observation, except when it rains.
_MAY._
_May_ has generally one or two hard showers of rain, sometimes
accompanied with hail, and often thunder; at others, the weather is
serene, with very few clouds, and those light and white.
The weather begins to grow very warm in this month, particularly when
calm, or the wind northerly or easterly; but the wind for much the
greater part is fresh, and westerly. And here it will not be amiss to
observe, that, during the whole of the summer, the westerly winds have a
considerable influence over the thermometer. When they are weak, the heat
encreases; if calm, it becomes still hotter; but even then not so hot as
when a northerly or easterly wind blows, which raises the mercury several
degrees, and makes the air very disagreeable. _See_ p. 14.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 92 Greatest 29 Greatest variation of the
Least 67 Least 28 6 therm. in one day, 10 deg.
The usual station of the mercury in the thermometer is at the beginning
70, and it gradually rises, as the month advances, to 76 or 80. The
variation between the morning and evening observation rises also from 6
to 9.
_JUNE._
This month is serene throughout, seldom so much as a few flying clouds to
be seen. It is very rare that even so much as one shower of rain falls,
and that at most but for a few minutes.
The westerly winds reign chiefly in this month; and freshening after
mid-day, often continue through the night, which allay the extreme heat,
now become very troublesome.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 96 Greatest 29 Greatest variation of therm.
Least 76 Least 28 5 in one day, 12 deg.
The morning-height of the mercury, at seven o’clock, gradually encreases
with the month, from 76 to about 80; as that of the afternoon, at four
o’clock, does from 84 to 92.
_JULY._
_July_ differs very little from the former month; the weather constantly
serene.
The westerly winds usually blow fresh; but, if they fail, it becomes
excessive hot.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 101 Greatest 28 9 Greatest variation of therm.
Least 77 Least 28 5 in one day, 11 deg.
Eighty, is the common height of the mercury, in the morning, at the
beginning of the month, as 85, 86 is at the end. The difference between
the morning and evening observation, 8 or 10.
_AUGUST._
Till about the 20th, _August_ is exactly like the two preceding months:
from that to the end, there usually appear a number of white clouds, but
larger than any that accidentally appear in other summer-months. These
are commonly termed the _Nile clouds_; and from this time, the dews
(which are scarce ever observed in the two preceding months) begin to
fall in the nights; but they are not very considerable.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 97 Greatest 29 Greatest variation in the
Least 74 Least 28 4 therm. in one day, 10 deg.
The height of the thermometer, till the clouds appear, is pretty much the
same as in that of last month; but, whenever they come, they commonly
sink it 4 or 5 degrees.
_SEPTEMBER._
For the first fortnight this month is like the former, or rather more
sultry, as the wind seldom blows strong. If no rain falls, this weather
continues all the month; but usually between the 15th and 25th dark,
gloomy clouds arise; and a squal, in the nature of a whirlwind, blows
from the westward, bringing with it a great cloud of dust that covers the
whole city. This prognosticates rain, and in one or two days more some
heavy showers fall, either in the city, or not far off. These are called
the first rains; and though they are usually inconsiderable, yet the air
is much cooled, and the remainder of the month rendered very pleasant.
Seldom a night passes without much lightening in the north-west quarter,
but not attended by thunder. When this lightening appears in the west or
south-west points, it is a sure sign of the approaching rain, which is
often followed by thunder.
The winds in _September_ are westerly, but often not more than light
breezes.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 92 Greatest 29 Greatest difference of the
Least 62 Least 28 6 therm. in one day, 12 deg.
In the beginning of this month, the usual morning-height of the
thermometer is much as in the end of _August_; the variation between the
morning and evening observation rather more considerable. The falling of
rain sinks it 3 or 4 degrees, and it usually keeps falling all the month
till it gets to 65. The variation in one day seldom then, exceeds 3 or 4,
and just at the falling of the rain much less, perhaps 1 or 2.
_OCTOBER._
Till the second rains fall in _October_, the weather is serene, cool,
and rather more pleasant than at any other time of the year; afterwards
it becomes more variable. These rains are usually regulated by those in
_September_, being between twenty and thirty days after them; and, like
them also, the quantity varies considerably in different years. However,
those of _October_ are seldom less than three or four days; but it must
not be understood that it continues a constant rain during the whole of
those days.
The winds are rarely strong in this month, but are commonly variable.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 84 Greatest 29 Greatest difference of the
Least 51 Least 28 6 therm. in one day, 10 deg.
The morning-height of the thermometer, till the rains fall, is usually
about 72; the difference between the morning and evening observation,
5 or 6. After the falling of the rains it gradually sinks to 60. The
variation then in one day is seldom more than 3 or 4, on the rainy days
commonly less.
_NOVEMBER._
_November_ may be reckoned one of the rainy months, though frequently
there is an interval of very fine weather. The number of rainy days
rarely exceed seven or eight, and most of them only a few heavy showers.
It is unusual to see snow fall in this month; but after the first
fortnight it is generally frosty in the morning when the weather is
serene.
The winds are variable, seldom strong, but more inclined to the north and
east than any of the other quarters.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 65 Greatest 29 1 Greatest variation of the
Least 44 Least 28 4 therm. in one day, 8 deg.
As the month advances, the mercury in the thermometer gradually falls
from 60 to 50; the former being its usual morning-height at the
beginning, as the latter is at the end. The variation in one day, from 5
to 2; but on rainy days there is very often no variation at all.
_DECEMBER._
This is usually a rainy month, and much more cloudy, foggy weather in the
intervals than in the preceding, consequently not near so agreeable. The
greatest number of rainy days mentioned in the register is 16, the fewest
6, commonly 8 or 9.
There is always more or less frosty weather in this month, and frequently
a little snow. This falls out commonly after or about the end of the
first fortnight, and with it commences the cold weather.
The winds are, as in the preceding month, commonly easterly or northerly,
and seldom strong.
Therm. Barom.
Greatest height 55 Greatest 29 1 Greatest difference of the
Least 40 Least 28 4 therm. in one day, 5 deg.
Forty-six is the common height of the thermometer through this month. The
difference between the morning and evening observation, when it does not
rain, is often 3.