p. 336 | Unprecedented Storms

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 27, 1882

Unprecedented Storms.

THERE has been a comparative lull in the East for the past week, in the matter of storms, but California has had its full share. These are worthy of notice, not only because they are out of the usual order of things in California, but also on account of the actual damage done.

July 19.—At Ukiah a severe thunder-storm occurred, lasting about four hours. It was accompanied by hail. Several telegraph poles were shattered by lightning. The same thing also occurred at Susanville, with about the same results.

For two or three days before and after the above date, Siskiyou County was visited by terrific storms, accompanied by thunder and hail. The hail was very severe. The electric display is reported as grand. We quote from the published report: "From the northwest to the southwest was an unbroken sheet of flame, with now and then flashes of zig-zag lightning darting through it." "In the lower part of Scott Valley as much as eight inches of rain fell in less than two hours. Fields of grain were entirely destroyed by the force of the rain and the hail. In Shasta Valley hay cocks were literally floated out of the meadows. These continued storms are inflicting great damage to the hay and grain crops of the country."

Californians have boasted of the excellence of the climate, and with good reason, but it looks as though the weather could no longer be implicitly depended on. To be sure these storms are not general, but they are on the increase. The end is not yet.