Whether it’s the stock market or weather, predictions are made every day based upon data and previous trends. As noted in a previous column, in 1868, a prediction for severe storms was made on a specific day, 10 months in advance. It was Christmas Day 1868 and British naval engineer Stephen Martin Saxby made this astounding prediction. Through the London newspaper, The Standard, he believed an “atmospheric disturbance” would occur on Oct. 5, 1869. On Oct. 4, 1869, in the northeastern United States and Canadian Maritime Provinces, a gale claimed 100 lives, destroyed homes and grounded ships. It became known as “Saxby’s Gale.” Saxby’s prediction was based on the position of the moon relative to the Earth. This scenario repeated itself during Hurricane Lili in October 2002.
Sunny, with a high about 84. Calm winds. Tonight: Clear, with a low about 53. Calm winds.