Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 104
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| Year | 1940 |
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196 THE WEATHER OF SCOTLAND IN 1939. burgh reaching 51 miles per hour between 11 RM. and midnight with gusts up to 81 miles per hour. The opening days of the month were cold, and some low temperatures were registered on the 2nd, Braemar having 9° F. (23 degrees of frost), West Linton 14° F., and Dalwhinnie, Bahnoral, and Forres 15° F. For the month as a whole, however, conditions were generally milder than usual, and mean temperatures appreciably above normal in all districts, the excess being over 2° F. in the south-west and about 4° F. in the north-east. In the warmest period, during the second week of the month, temperature in the shade rose to 62° F. on the 10th at Aberdeen, this being 5 degrees above the highest previously recorded there in early February. On the same day the temperature reached 61° F. at Craibstone and 60° F. at Criefl‘, Gordon Castle, Forres, and Lossiemouth. Ground frosts were reported from all districts during the cold spell at the beginning of the month, and again during the last three days. They occurred at one place or another on twenty days of the month. The lowest temperatures on exposed ground were 8° F. at Braemar, 9° F. at Dalwhinnie, and 11° F. at Balmoral and W’est Linton, all on the 2nd. The beginning of the month was dry over the greater part of the country, but persistent rain set in on the 3rd, some places in the north and west having rain every day from the 3rd to the 28th. As a result there was an excess of rainfall in most parts, the excess being greatest in the west where some stations had twice the usual amount. Rainfall was, however, somewhat less than the average in the Moray Firth area, in the extreme south-east, and at one or two isolated stations. Monthly totals ranged from 27-49 inches at Loan to 141 inch at N ethy Bridge. Days with falls of over 1 inch were numerous in all parts. Kinlochquoich had ten such days, including three successive days, the 9th, 10th and 11th, on which the amounts were 2'85, 505, and 195 inches respec- tively. Snow fell frequently, being reported on sixteen days, but the falls were not heavy. Hail was widespread in the west on the 16th and 22nd, and occurred locally on thirteen other days. Thunderstorms were reported on six days, a large area being affected on the 26th. Sunshine was below the normal over most of the country, though there was a slight excess in Shetland and Banifshire. The deficiency was most marked in the west. The monthly totals were in the neighbourhood of 80 hours in Banfishire, while some stations in the area of deficient sunshine had only about 20 hours. THE WEATHER. or SCOTLAND IN 1939. 197 MARCH. This month was rather warmer than usual, and sunshine was above normal in the west. Rainfall was variable, with considerable excess locally in the south. The weather was quieter than in February, the duration of winds of gale force falling to 18 hours at Lerwick and 7 at Bell Rock. Gales were reported locally on thirteen days, and were fairly widespread on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 20th. They were not in general very severe, but that of the 20th gave gusts up to 73 miles per hour at Stornoway. During the first few days of the month unsettled mild conditions prevailed, with frequent rain or drizzle, but some sunny periods. Thereafter temperature became rather ‘variable, especially in the east, quiet conditions alternating With bursts of polar air. A spell of quiet, fine weather from 24th to 26th gave very bright days in the west. Apart from scattered showers, mainly fair conditions then continued in the west till the end of the month, but dull, rather wet, and cold days marked the close of the month in the east. On the whole, temperature was rather higher than usual, and in the Clyde area and parts of Perthshire the excess was rather over 2° F. The warmest weather occurred during an anticyclonic spell which continued from 7th to 20th, shade temperature rising on the 13th to 62° F. at Stonehaven, 61° F. at Lundin Links, and 60° F. at Montrose. Short cold spells on 9th-10th, and 24th to 26th also occurred in fine anticyclonic conditions. In these the lowest temperatures registered were 21° F. at Dalwhinnie on the 9th, 23° F. at Balmoral and Wolfelee on the 15th and 24th, and 20° F. at Braemar on the 21th. Ground frosts were reported from one place or another every day except from 3rd to 6th and 14th to 16th. The lowest temperatures on exposed ground at Dalwhinnie were 13° F. on the 24th and 15° F. on the 9th, 12th, and 26th, while on the 24th Braemar had 17° F., Edinburgh 18° F., and Oarluke 19° F. The month was on the whole wet in the south, but there were large areas elsewhere with rather less than the average rainfall. The departures from normal were not great, only a few isolated stations in the south recording 50 per cent above normal. Rainfall was, however, remarkably persistent in places, many stations having measurable amounts on twenty-eight days. Monthly totals ranged from 1389 inches at Loan to 216 inches at Nethy Bridge, and the largest daily fall was 2-58 inches at Shiel (Kirkcudbright). Snow fell generally from 6th to 8th and from 20th to 22nd, and locally on fourteen other days, but it was not heavy. Hail was widespread on the 6th and 7th in the west, and from 22nd in“ |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 104 |
