Does Gun-Fire Cause Rain ?

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 12 November 1915, Page 2

Does Gun-Fire Cause Rain ?

Not a few people believe that it does ; but facts do not bear out the belief. Mr Elgie, the author and publisher of “ Star and Weather Gossip.” relates that in the spring of 1911 the then First Lord of the Admiralty, was asked by Lord Dalrymple whether he could arrange for the Fleet to carry out their heavy gun practice round the coast some other period than harvest time, “ when the resultant heavy rains might cause serious loss to the farming community. ”

The First Lord replied : There is no evidence that the firing cavtses heavy rain. The winter months are unsuited to ta get practice owing to the bad weather summer is generally devoted to manoeuvres; so that the spring and autumn are the most suitable periods for target practice. ” On the other hand, Mr Elgie mentions a picture of the Fleet at Spithead tiring a salute on Coronation Day, 1911, while a correspondent recently wrote to it that ” the thunderous discharge had the effect of bringing down the rain. ” while a correspondent recently wrote to Mr Elgie to the effect that ‘in his forty years practical experience gun-firing, he had never know'n a heavy discharge to fail in bringing down the rain. “ It is, I know, ” says Mr Elgie, “often advanced in support of the gun-fiiing and rain theory that torrential downpours marked the Waterloo series of battles. But 1 think we should remember that those engagements were fought in the middle of June, at a period when drenching rains may be expected in Belgium —battle or no battle. I have seen it seriously suggest ed even that the great storm which shattered the Spanish Armada was due to the heavy gun-firing during the engagement.