The Weather Diary of Sir John Wittewronge, April 1686

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Aprill: 1686:

This yeare several oakes were green before the Elmes or beeches, which I neaver saw before

The Emenyes were yett in flower, as they had bin all winter ever since the beginning of October till near the end of Aprill

I never knew a windyer spring from the beginning almost of March till the 20th of Aprill

The frequent showers of rain this month brought grass on exceedingly, notwithstanding the East wind brought aboundance of Catterpillars, & the blasts* togeather spoyled the Apricott blossoms, so that there were almost none, nor more plumbs or peares: & apples, did not bloom kindly at all: the others did.

1st  A delicate clear warm spring day W:fulE

8     After a great deal of rain in the night a fair day W:SW

15   A close clowdy day espetially afternoon, brisk Wind W:fulS

22   Another very warm day, close afternoon W:W

29   A rainy day from 5 in the morn till past 6 afternoon W:S

* Blast: to produce a blight upon plants, to stop or impede their growth or cause them to wither by a cold, dry or pestilential wind; to wither under the influence of blight.