Will you guests know what to make of the mysterious device on your coffee table?
You might not be surprised to learn the Storm Glass has ancestors in ancient seafaring lore. Early navigators would observe the action of a ship's compass to determine whether they were facing good weather or bad weather, thus allowing them to avoid storms at sea.
The Storm Glass is an elegant, Victorian-era glass barometer that punctuates dreary winter days with their captivating patterns. As a beautiful conversation piece, the storm glass is also fun to watch as the quicksilver rises and falls. Most of the storm glasses Weather Scientific offer include a wooden base and an informational booklet. Some of them even come with a classy, elegant gift box and can be hung on the wall.
Admiral Fitzroy Storm Glass
This handsome wall-mounted weather instrument accurately forecasts the weather based on the rising and falling of its colored, alcohol-based liquid. Admiral Fitzroy, who spent his life around the sea, was familiar with the ways of the ocean. He noticed that each day, his storm glass rose and fell at different times due to changing air pressures.
The storm glass helped Fitzroy foresee storms better, saving his crew members from danger.
For many years, the Fitzroy Storm Glass was all the rage in Medieval times. These ornate, hand blown glass balls were used in place of a barometer to predict the weather. Today, they are less popular than barometers, but still have a small following of collectors.
The Storm Glass today
Storm glasses are designed to predict the weather based on crystal formations in the liquid within. Most often, they are used by sailors. The device works best in temperate climates, and is only fully accurate 6-8 weeks into the future. However, it remains a novelty item that will make a great gift for anyone who loves gadgets or old-fashioned things!
Storm glasses are still widely available today. They are popular with sailors, campers, and homemakers who want natural alternatives to chemical-based weather tracking methods.
These beautiful handblown glass vessels have been counted on for hundreds of years to provide accurate weather predictions. Just look at the direction the liquid swirls when it's time for a change in the weather. If it travels clockwise, expect 4-10 days of pleasant weather; if counterclockwise, wet and stormy. Perfect for collectors and lovers of classic barometers; we think it makes a great gift too.
How to Read a Storm Glass
Robert Fitzroy popularized the current method of reading a storm glass, which has proven to accurately tell the location and severity of the weather. To read a storm glass, turn your glass over so you are reading through the right side of the glass. The top half of the storm glass is for general weather conditions, while the bottom half of the storm glass gives you the specifics for temperatures, winds, etc. This chart can be used with an understanding of today's terminology.
Reading a storm glass (or pineapple) is easy. Step 1: Look at the level of the liquid in the storm glass. The higher it is, the more humid and unsettled weather it will bring. The lower the liquid level, the cooler and drier it will be. Step 2: Observe the color of the liquid by looking through the storm glass — if you can see your finger clearly through it, this indicates cooler and sunny weather will be on its way. If you can't see anything through it, rain is likely to fall in about three days' time.
