Storm (novel)
Encyclopedia
Storm is a novel written by George Rippey Stewart and published in 1941. The book became a best-seller and helped lead to the naming of tropical cyclone
s worldwide, even though the main character of the book was an extratropical cyclone
.
, 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 is divided into twelve chapters: one chapter for each day of the storm's existence. The storm's beneficial effects include averting a locust plague and ending a drought. Its harmful effects include flooding a valley near Sacramento, endangering a plane, stalling a train, and leading to the deaths of 16 people. It spawns a new cyclone which significantly affects New York
.
, performed in the musical Paint Your Wagon. It also helped lead to the idea of naming tropical cyclones.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
s worldwide, even though the main character of the book was an extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
.
Plot summary
A cyclone develops offshore JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and becomes a significant storm that moves into California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a blizzard of significance for the Sierra Nevada range, with snowfall amounts of 20 feet (6.1 m). The book is divided into twelve chapters: one chapter for each day of the storm's existence. The storm's beneficial effects include averting a locust plague and ending a drought. Its harmful effects include flooding a valley near Sacramento, endangering a plane, stalling a train, and leading to the deaths of 16 people. It spawns a new cyclone which significantly affects New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Legacy
This book led to the inspiration for the Lerner and Loewe song They Call the Wind MariaThey Call the Wind Maria
"They Call the Wind Maria" is an American popular song with lyrics written by Alan J. Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe for their 1951 Broadway musical, Paint Your Wagon, which is set in the California Gold Rush. Rufus Smith originally sang the song on Broadway, and Joseph Leader was the...
, performed in the musical Paint Your Wagon. It also helped lead to the idea of naming tropical cyclones.