Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 108
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| Year | 1940 |
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204 THE WEATHER or SCOTLAND IN 1939. Night temperatures were also high at this time, Prestwick recording 63° F. and Kilmarnock, Troon, and Ayr 62° F. on the 3rd. Slight frost occurred at many places towards the end of the month. The lowest reported temperatures were 25° F. (approx) at West Linton, Balmoral, and Braemar on the 28th. Day temperatures did not rise much above 50° F. in this period, and in places they were under 50° F. Ground frosts were widespread from 28th to 30th, and occurred locally on eight other days. Over most of the country the rainfall was well below normal, many places in the south and west experiencing a period of drought from the 14th to the 30th. Only a few scattered stations had more than their normal rainfall, and this was the result of thunderstorms. Parts of Ross-shire and Ayr- shire had less than half their normal amount. The monthly totals ranged from 529 inches at Glenmoidart and 5-39 inches on Barra to 089 at Glen Moriston. Daily falls exceed- ing an inch were numerous in the first ten days, but none occurred after the 12th. The 3rd was by far the wettest day, over 3 inches being reported in Barra and Islay and over 2 inches in Mull and at Glenbranter. Thunderstorms occurred in all districts on this day and were exceptionally severe in the west. Hail fell at Carluke. There was flooding in Islay, and serious landslides on the main road between Glasgow and Dunoon. Thunder was reported on fourteen other days. There was a deficiency of sunshine at most places in east and south Scotland and a small excess in the west. The totals ranged from 143 hours at Arbroath, and 138 at Car- noustie, Rothesay, Troon, Prestwick, and Ayr, to 81 at March mont, 86 at Eskdalemuir, and 89 at Banff. OCTOBER. The month was the coolest October since 1932, but the weather was sunny and dry in the west. Conditions ivei‘e relatively dull in the east, and wet in central areas. Relatively fine quiet weather prevailed for most of the first week, but subsequently until the 15th it was disturbed. Quiet conditions then recurred until the 20th, and again between the 27th and 29th. From 21st to 26th, however, the country was under the influence of depressions passing eastwards between Greenland and Scandinavia, and at the end of the month it was affected by depressions to the south. On the whole, there was an excess of N. and NE. windS, and conditions were cool, especially in the latter half of the month. Gales were reported on nine days, and Bell Rock experienced gusts up to 77 miles per hour on the 10th and 67 miles per hour on the 26th. The total duration of windq THE WEATHER OF SCOTLAND IN 1939. 205 of gale force was 97 hours at Bell Rock, but only 6 hours at Stornoway. Over the greater part of the country the mean temperature was below normal, though in the extreme north and north- west the differences from normal were slight. At several places in the south and south-west the deficiency exceeded 3° F. The warmest days were the 6th and 7th, when day temperatures rose to 64° F. at Onich, Newton Stewart and Anchincruive, to 65° F. at Kilmarnock, and to about 60° F. in many other places. Sharp frosts occurred at inland stations on the 18th and 28th, night temperatures of 20° F. (approx.) occurring at Braemar and Balmoral on the 18th, and 25° F. at Strathy, Perth, Prestwick, and Kilmarnock on the 28th. h-ound frosts were registered at one place or another on every night except the 13th, 14th, and 23rd. Rainfall was on the whole below normal, the deficiency being most marked in the West Highlands, Where some stations had under a quarter of the normal amount. At Fort William the total for the three months, August to October, was 8-81 inches, the lowest amount previously recorded for these three months being 8-88 inches in 1915. On the other hand, in the east and a large part of the central area conditions were wetter than usual, Braemar having almost double its normal amount. The wettest days were the 9th and 10th, falls of over an inch occurring on both days in all districts. The monthly totals varied from 620 inches at Spean Bridge to 094 inch at Arisaig. On the 9th Ardvorlich (Lochearnhead), Edinchip (Lochearnhead), and Dall Avon (Aberfeldy) had between two and three inches, and on the 10th Glenbranter, Forrest Lodge, Hzilry. . ,nd Killin experienced similar falls. Snow was reported :it high-level stations on eleven days, the falls being widespread in the central area on 24th-25th. Hail fell locally on eleven days, and thunderstorms were reported at one place or another on four days, the storms being fairly numerous on the 11th. Sunshine was much above normal in the west, and exceeded the normal over most of the country, but there was a deficiency in the south—east and at some places along the east coast. The totals ranged from 150 and 146 hours at Duntuilm (Skye) and Oban respectively to 77 hours at Marchmont, 79 at North Berwick, and 80 at Dundee. NOVEMBER. The weather of November was mild and very unsettled, with excessive rainfall and some severe gales. There were no very cold days. The month opened disturbed and dull, and these conditions continued until the 9th, when a temporary improvement |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 108 |
