Culture · Science · The weather record
The Weather of 1815
Observations at Vellmar, with the level of the Ostra, fog on the river and the state of Lake Tarn at Tarnmund, as recorded by the Ministry of the Interior. Temperatures in degrees, rainfall in millimetres.
7.8°Mean of the year
712 mmRainfall
63Fog days on the Ostra
1.6 mOstra above its mark, highest
18 January 1815Lake Tarn
The months
| Month | Mean | Warmest day | Coldest night | Rain | Fog days | Frost days | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.0° | 13° | -9° | 33 mm | 6 | 12 | |
| February | 2.3° | 13° | -6° | 34 mm | 5 | 4 | |
| March | 0.5° | 10° | -11° | 43 mm | 4 | 15 | |
| April | 5.9° | 19° | -4° | 53 mm | 4 | 0 | |
| May | 11.2° | 23° | 3° | 76 mm | 4 | 0 | |
| June | 14.5° | 25° | 3° | 96 mm | 0 | 0 | |
| July | 16.8° | 26° | 7° | 110 mm | 0 | 0 | |
| August | 16.6° | 30° | 8° | 104 mm | 1 | 0 | |
| September | 12.9° | 25° | 1° | 33 mm | 4 | 0 | |
| October | 8.2° | 18° | -2° | 39 mm | 9 | 0 | |
| November | 3.5° | 13° | -6° | 45 mm | 13 | 0 | |
| December | 0.4° | 13° | -12° | 46 mm | 13 | 16 |
Lake Tarn
The lake froze at Tarnmund on 18 January 1815, as the towns reported and bore the weight of a man by the end of the month; the ferry to the eastern shore was replaced by a marked path. The thaw is recorded on 5 February 1815.
The Ostra
The river rose to 1.6 metres above its mark at Vellmar bridge at the highest. 63 days of fog were recorded on the lower river, the ferries stopping when the far bank could not be seen.
Note
The record for 1815 was kept by the Ministry of the Interior from readings at Vellmar and the garrison at Marschau, before the Observatory at Tarnmund was established. Readings on the Osmoor beyond the Reed Line were not taken.
Warmest month, 16.8°; coldest, 0.4°. Means are of the month; the warmest day and coldest night are the extremes recorded.
Weather in the public record
- 6 January 1815, Weinfeld. The Ostra rises 50 centimetres above its mark at Weinfeld. Cellars in Church Street are flooded. Report.
- 14 January 1815, Grauholt. The Ostra rises 20 centimetres above its mark at Grauholt. Cellars in Short Square are flooded. Report.
- 18 January 1815, Sudfurt. The coldest night in 30 years is recorded at Sudfurt. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 6 February 1815, Wasserdorf. The Ostra rises 40 centimetres above its mark at Wasserdorf. Cellars in Ferry Lane are flooded. Report.
- 20 February 1815, Berging. The coldest night in 50 years is recorded at Berging. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 9 March 1815, Grautal. The Ostra rises 60 centimetres above its mark at Grautal. Cellars in Orchard Gate are flooded. Report.
- 16 March 1815, Brennholt. The Ostra rises 80 centimetres above its mark at Brennholt. Cellars in Long Street are flooded. Report.
- 25 March 1815, Lindenmar. The coldest night in 70 years is recorded at Lindenmar. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 30 March 1815, Oberbach. A storm strips roofs in Oberbach and fells the old lime in Bridge Street. Report.
- 20 April 1815, Weinfeld. The Ostra rises 40 centimetres above its mark at Weinfeld. Cellars in Mill Street are flooded. Report.
- 25 April 1815, Eisenheim. The Ostra rises 50 centimetres above its mark at Eisenheim. Cellars in Ostra Square are flooded. Report.
- 30 April 1815, Berging. A storm strips roofs in Berging and fells the old lime in Market Walk. Report.
- 7 May 1815, Brennholt. A storm strips roofs in Brennholt and fells the old lime in Old Gate Walk. Report.
- 17 May 1815, Grautal. A storm strips roofs in Grautal and fells the old lime in Iron Way. Report.
- 5 June 1815, Sandfeld. The coldest night in 50 years is recorded at Sandfeld. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 9 June 1815, Norrwick. The Ostra rises 30 centimetres above its mark at Norrwick. Cellars in Orchard Street are flooded. Report.
- 24 June 1815, Oberholt. A storm strips roofs in Oberholt and fells the old lime in Market Street. Report.
- 3 July 1815, Hochstadt. The Ostra rises 70 centimetres above its mark at Hochstadt. Cellars in Tanner Street are flooded. Report.
- 3 July 1815, Sudfurt. The Ostra rises 50 centimetres above its mark at Sudfurt. Cellars in Old Gate Walk are flooded. Report.
- 29 July 1815, Weinwick. A storm strips roofs in Weinwick and fells the old lime in Chapel Street. Report.
- 23 August 1815, Sanding. The coldest night in 50 years is recorded at Sanding. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 18 September 1815, Sudholt. The coldest night in 60 years is recorded at Sudholt. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 20 September 1815, Marschau. A storm strips roofs in Marschau and fells the old lime in Printer Street. Report.
- 7 October 1815, Dammberg. A storm strips roofs in Dammberg and fells the old lime in Chapel Street. Report.
- 12 October 1815, Ostrabruck. The Ostra rises 70 centimetres above its mark at Ostrabruck. Cellars in Star Street are flooded. Report.
- 16 October 1815, Reedtal. The coldest night in 60 years is recorded at Reedtal. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 21 October 1815, Grauholt. The coldest night in 20 years is recorded at Grauholt. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 25 November 1815, Sanding. A storm strips roofs in Sanding and fells the old lime in Long Quay. Report.
- 27 November 1815, Tarnmoor. The coldest night in 70 years is recorded at Tarnmoor. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.
- 28 November 1815, Reedtal. The coldest night in 20 years is recorded at Reedtal. Lake Tarn freezes to the middle. Report.