Storm (novel)

"Storm" is a novel written by George Rippey Stewart and published in 1941. The book became a best-seller. This novel helped lead to the naming of tropical cyclones worldwide,cite web | author = Heidorn, Keith C. | url = http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/arts/storm.htm | title = George Stewart's Storm: Remembering A Classic. | accessdate = 2006-12-10 | publisher = The Weather Doctor] even though the main character of the book was an extratropical cyclone.cite web | author = Dorst, Neal | title = Frequently Asked Questions: What fictional books, plays, and movies have been written involving tropical cyclones? | publisher = Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division | accessdate = 2006-12-10 | url = http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/J4.html]

Plot summary

A cyclone develops offshore Japan, and becomes a significant storm that moves into California as a blizzard of significance for the Sierra Nevada range, with snowfall amounts of 20 feet (6.1 m). The book divides into twelve chapters, with one chapter for each day of its existence. Of its beneficial effects, a locust plague is averted and it ends a drought. Its negative impacts include flooding a valley near Sacramento, endangering a plane, stalling a train, and leading to the deaths of 16 people. It spawned a new cyclone which significantly impacts New York. [Time Magazine. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,802244,00.html Tainted Air.] Retrieved on 2006-12-10.]

Legacy

This book led to the inspiration for the Lerner and Loewe song "They Call The Wind Maria," performed in the musical "Paint Your Wagon". It also helped lead to the idea of naming tropical cyclones.

ee also

*Tropical cyclone

References