Revolutionary Warm Spell Ask Dave a weather question

Dave Thurlow, Host

 
In the winter of 1780, the American colonies were not only in the midst of fighting the British, but they were also trying to fight one of the harshest and coldest winters on record. Hi, I'm Dave Thurlow from the Mount Washington Observatory and this is The Weather Notebook.

January, of 1780 was especially harsh. The average temperature in Hartford, CT for example was 4 degrees for that month. At one point, the colonies were hit by 4 heavy snowstorms in 10 days and every port on the Eastern seaboard as far south as North Carolina was iced-in.

Washington's winter at Valley Forge was only a dress rehearsal for Morristown in 1780.

During this rough stretch of winter weather, George Washington's army was in a crucial stage in its war against the British. The troops were getting through the winter in Morristown, NJ. But as the winter and snow continued, roads became impassable and the supply of food to Washington's troops stopped. In desperation, Washington wrote a letter to all of the magistrates in the surrounding area warning that he may have to have his men confiscate food from local farmers, violating the very principle for which he was fighting.

But fortunately for Washington, and the young country, a warming trend took hold in the middle of January and local farmers, having heard about the desperate situation of the soldiers, began bringing fresh supplies to the soldiers. In fact, they brought so much that Washington began turning down food. Although the winter continued to be harsh until May, Washington's Army made it through the bleakest time of winter and well, you know the rest.

This happened during what was called the little ice age. And one little January thaw likely never did so much to influence the course of history.

For additional information, be sure to visit our website, which is weathernotebook.org. Our show is underwritten by Subaru, the beauty of all wheel drive, with major support provided by the National Science Foundation.