No. 215 - THE PENNY MAGAZINE - Aug. 8, 1835

Helm-Wind.--The helm-wind is a curious phenomenon which occurs along several miles of the western side of these mountains (Hartside, in Cumberland), and to the violence of which the traveller will be occasionally exposed. It derives its name from a long band or cloud stretching like a helmet over the summit of the hills, and occurs more frequently in the spring and autumn than at other times. Its duration is very various, from a few hours to a few days. The following interesting notices of this singular phenomenon are chiefly extracted from Hutchinson's 'History of Cumberland:'--

Upon the summits of this lofty ridge of mountains there frequently hangs a vast column of clouds, in a sullen and drowsy state, having little movement. This heavy collection of vapours frequently extends several miles in length, and dips itself from the summit half-way down to the base of these eminences, and frequently, at the same time, the other mountains in view are clear of mist, and show no signs of rain. The helm, or cloud, exhibits an awful and solemn appearance, tinged with white by the sun's rays, that strike the upper parts, and spreading a gloom below over the inferior parts of the mountains like the shadows of night. When this collection of vapours first begins to gather upon the hills, there is to be observed hanging upon it a black strip of cloud, continually flying off and fed from the white part, which is the real helm; this strip is called the helm-bar, as, during its appearance, the winds are thought to be resisted by it, for on its dispersion they rage vehemently upon the valleys beneath. The direction of the helm-bar is parallel to that part of the main cloud or collection of vapour that is tinged with white by being struck with the sun's rays; the bar appears in continual agitation, as boiling or struggling with contrary blasts, while the helm all this time keeps a motionless station. When the bar is dispersed, the winds that issue from the helm are sometimes extremely violent; but that force seems to be in proportion to the real current of the winds, which blow at a distance from the mountains, and which are frequently in a contrary direction, and then the helm-wind does not extend above two or three miles; without these impediments, it seldom sweeps over a larger tract than twelve miles, perhaps from the mere resistance of the lower atmosphere. It is remarkable that, at the base of the mountain, the blasts are much less violent than in the middle region; and yet the hurricane is sometimes impetuous even there, bearing everything before it, when, at the distance of a few miles, there is a dead calm and a sunny sky. The spring is most favourable to this phenomenon. The helm-wind will sometimes blow for a fortnight, till the air in the lower region, warmed before by the influence of the sun, is thereby rendered piercing cold.--Sopwith's Mining Districts in Cumberland and Durham.