Weather Report Needed

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Stimulated by Bletchley's 1915 weather mod, I've been knocking around in the OFF weather files and noticed that there is a gap for the period from May 18, 1917 to June 18, 1917. (I think someone accidentally punched a "6" instead of a "5"). The result is we get the same weather conditions for a whole month during that time. Since the weather file also partially controls the level of air activity, we also get the same amount of air activity for that whole period.

 

Therefore, I was wondering if anyone might have any information about the weather during that period? I know that the summer of 1917 was supposed to have been unusually wet, but beyond that I have no information. I believe that A.L. Gould's "No Parachute" is a contemporary account that covers that period--are there any other sources of information that might have daily weather information that can be shared? I also think the battle of Messine's Ridge took place during that time. A description of the battle might also mention the weather conditions.

 

I hope to take the information and put together a weather mod for 1916 -- 1918

[+Polovski 457]

Thanks for spotting it HPW. It may not be neceesary to redo all the research again, maybe Shred or WM already has the correct file somewhere so we can look maybe.

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

I am pleased that I was able to find this very small error and point it out. I'll do almost anything to help and/or promote the great work you guys have already done on this sim. Proof reading you own work is one of the most difficult things for both writers and game developers to do, I imagine. Sometimes a fresh eye can spot things that the more jaded (or should I say experienced ) may miss.

 

Regarding the weather during this period, I was able to find an account from a Canadian soldier who wrote brief notes back to his family virtually every day from this period--including frequent comments on the weather. Here is the website: http://www.kingandempire.com/becker2.html I've incorporated this information into a revised OFFHistoricalWeather1917.txt if you are interested.

[Pips 5]

Here's the weather for the period in question. It's from the diary of No 5 Squadron RFC, which was based at Petite Synthe, Belgium.

 

18 May, 1917.

Extremely windy (from the west), with gusts up to Force 7 and almost out of control below 4,000ft. Above 6,000ft the wind was strong but steady though one almost stood still against when flying into it.

 

19 May

Same, with heavy low clouds.

 

20 May

Thick clouds at 6,000ft. Wind westing at Force 4.

 

21 May

Heavy rain, low clouds. Visibility less than 1/2 mile.

 

22 May

Storms with strong west wind. Ceiling zero.

 

23 May

Force 6 winds, cloud level 200ft. Intermittent showers.

 

24 May

Wind howling, slashing rain almost horizontal. Mess shaking.

 

25 May

Clear skies up to 10,000ft. Scattered above. Slight westing wind, visibility 15-20 miles.

 

26 May

Opposite of yesterday. Thick clouds, strong west wind, ceiling 1,000ft. tried climbing above but aborted after reaching 17,000ft with no breaks in the cloud.

 

27 May

Very warm and thick haze. Visibility less than 2 miles. Strong Force 5 west wind.

 

28 May

Visibility good despite much cumulus at 10,000ft and above. Wind Force 4.

 

30 May

Dud day with heavy clouds at 1,000ft.

 

31 May

A fine clear morning but with a very strong west wind. At 1.00pm a heavy clud layer blew in from the sea, visibility dropping to less than 1 mile.

 

1 June

Strong west wind, broken clouds all the way up to 16,000ft. Clear above.

 

2 June

Wind eased overnight, but heavy clouds throught the day.

 

3 June

Strong west wind, fluffy broken cloud.

 

4 June

Visibility very good, being able to see the coast 30 miles to the north. Slight west wind.

 

5 June

High scattered clouds, mild wind.

 

6 June

Gusty winds from the north and heavy showers.

 

7 June

Beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. Wind just a gentle breeze.

 

8 June

Hazy all morning with rain after tea.

 

9 June

Big cloud banks at 14,000ft, very hazy. Visibility less than 5 miles.

 

10 June

Very hot and hazy day, no wind at all.

 

11 June

Another hot roasting day. Visibility less than 1 mile, solid haze obscuring ground from 1,000ft.

 

12 June

Hot oppressive day, hazy. Not a breath of wind.

 

13 June

Very hot, extremely thick weather.

 

14 June

Still hot and oppressive, but a coolng breeze from midday. Very clear evening.

 

15 June

Westing wind, hazy with broken clouds. Visibility 5 miles.

 

16 June

Extremely hot - 105 degrees. Very thick haze and from 6,000ft solid cloud cover over all of Belgium.

 

17 June

Heat intense all day - 110 degrees. Thick haze, visibility poor.

 

18 June

A very grilling morning, hotter than ever. A terrific storm blew up in the afternoon, the wind rising to hurricane fury. It passed quickly. Another big storm at 11pm.

[+Polovski 457]

Thanks guys - sure send it over HPW and I'll discuss with WM. Don't forget it would take a fair few collated reports as of course weather can vary across even small regions in a day.

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Thank you, Pips.

 

Most of your data correlates with the info I have--perhaps a little more cloudy and stormy up there on the coast than what my guy reported. My "guy" was apparently at Le Havre, Arras, and Vimy Ridge during this time.

 

If anyone else has some good sources, I am still eager to here it. Again, "No Parachute" may have some info about weather on the days that he flew, but my local library does not have a copy.

 

Pol -- I will send you the file soon. I made both a Quiet and Active Sector version, where the weather is the same (some slight variation in cloud condition), but the flight frequency/activity is different from your original file. Or, I can just paste the new dates into the existing OFF file. Which do you prefer?

Edited August 15, 2011 by Herr Prop-Wasche

[+Polovski 457]

Not my area so not sure, if it's not tricky send both ways maybe?

[shredward 12]

I'll take a look at our current weather file when I get home (be a few days).

Cheers,

the Shredder

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

I forgot to bring the file with me on my thumbdrive to upload, but I should have it later today or tomorrow.

 

Along with the 1917 weather file, I also noticed a few very minor errors in the 1915 and 1918 weather files (repeated or missing dates, etc.). I can send you corrected versions of those files, too.

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Here are the files with my corrections added:

 

CorrectedOFFHistoricalWeather1915.txt

1915

Line 231

Changed 2-10-1915 to 1-10-1915

 

CorrectedOFFHistoricalWeather1917.txt

1917

1) Deleted lines 339 to 350 (28-3-1917 to 1-4-1917) so 28-3-1917 to 30-3-1917 could be read

2) Deleted text:

18

5

1917

18

6

1917

.

.

.

EOR

3) Added additional text to cover period from 18-5-1917 to 18-6-1917

 

CorrectedOFFHistoricalWeather1918.txt

1918

1) Duplication of 2-1-1918 removed

2) Duplication of 24-4-1918 through 28-4-1918 removed

3) Duplication of 4-7-1918 removed

4) Changed 9-8-1918 to 9-9-1918 to replace missing date of 9-9-1918

5) Duplication of 1-11-1918 that appears after 2-11-1918 to 3-11-1918 removed

 

I also changed the array reference at the top of each file with the correct number of records due to these changes. If anyone wants to use these files, simply back up your old "OFFHistoricalWeather19xx.txt" files, copy my files into your Over Flanders Fields\campaigns\CampaignData\Weather folder, and remove the "Corrected' from the name of the files.

Edited August 17, 2011 by Herr Prop-Wasche

[+Polovski 457]

Great thanks HPW, Shred will be able to grab the fixes.