One of the most frustrating things about living in Edinburgh is the Hoar. What is the Hoar (pronounced haar)? It is a kind of fog that forms when there is warm air on the land and cold air on the ocean. Edinburgh seems perfectly placed to have these fogs directly in the middle of the city. This means that I can get up in the morning and see the sun and feel its warmth but by the time I leave my flat, I cannot see Arthur's Seat and sometimes even my own hand.
People not directly in Edinburgh can see the city covered in fog while it is blistering hot everywhere else in Scotland. This makes Edinburgh look kind of like Brigadoon (except it is a city not a highland village) from outside the city. When the Hoar comes in, the temperature drops about ten degrees in the city. So, you must be careful when you dress in the mornings because in just a few minutes time, it can go from a very warm, nice, sunny day to a dismal, cold, wet day. It can also dissipate just as fast as it arrives, which makes life a bit interesting. Also, it is not just a spring time phenomena; I have seen it happen in the middle of August on the hottest day of the year else where in Scotland.
posted by Chris #2:36 PM | 5 comments |
