New England's Dark Day

New England's Dark Day
DateMay 19, 1780 (1780-05-19)
LocationNew England
TypeWeather phenomenon
CauseCombination of smoke from forest fires, a thick fog and cloud cover.
OutcomeCandles were required from noon on

1780 map of the region

New England's Dark Day occurred on May 19, 1780, when an unusual darkening of the daytime sky was observed over the New England states[1] and parts of eastern Canada.[2] The primary cause of the event is believed to have been a combination of smoke from forest fires,[3] a thick fog, and cloud cover. The darkness was so complete that candles were required from noon on. It did not disperse until the middle of the next night.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Ten Notable Apocalypses that (Obviously) Didn't Happen". Smithsonian. November 12, 2009. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  2. ^ de Castella, Tom (May 18, 2012). "What caused the mystery of the Dark Day?". BBC News. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Ross, John (Fall 2008). "Dark Day of 1780". American Heritage. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "New England's Dark Day". The Weather Doctor Almanac. 2004. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2004.
  5. ^ Williams, Samuel (1785). "An account of a very uncommon Darkness in the States of New-England, May 19, 1780". Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. I: 234–246 – via Hathi Trust.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search