Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 109
Image details
| Year | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Transcription |
|
| OCR Text |
206 THE WEATHER or SCOTLAND IN 1939. occurred which lasted until the 12th. Thereafter the weather was variable, with alternating short fair spells and rough Spells. The series of depressions affecting the country at brief intervals gave an excess of S. and SW. winds, with their usual accom- paniment of mild, wet weather. Gales were reported on twenty-two days, their total duration being 33 hours at Lerwick, 27 at Stornoway, 46 at Bell Rock, and 9 at Tiree. A westerly gale on the 26th was very severe and caused much damage, exceptionally strong winds being experienced over the whole of Scotland. A mean speed exceeding 50 miles per hour was recorded at widely separated stations, and gusts reached about 75 miles per hour. The mean temperature of the month was everywhere above normal. The excess was small in the extreme north, but was nearly 4° F. in the Clyde area and at Fort William. Notable mild spells occurred widely from the 7th to the 13th, and again in the south at the end of the month. The highest day temperatures were 60° F. at Cupar on the 7th, 59° F. at Troon on the 11th, and 58° F. at Dunbar on the 7th. There were no very cold days. Ground frosts were recorded at one place or another on twenty—four nights. Rainfall was above normal, except to the south and west of Moray Firth, where there was a slight deficiency. Some places in the south-west had more than twice their usual amount. The rainfall was persistent rather than exceptionally heavy, rain falling at many stations on every day of the month. The monthly totals varied from 17'53 inches at Kinlochquoich to 2-68 inches at Nethy Bridge. Daily falls of over an inch occurred generally, but few stations had over 2 inches. Falls exceeding 2 inches, all on the 30th, were recorded at Ardtornish, Brenchoillie, Inveraray, and Castle Kennedy. Light snow fell in parts, chiefly in the last week, and hail occurred locally on twelve days. There was thunder on eleven days, a thunderstorm on the 6th in Skye being accompanied by exceptionally large hailstones. Sunshine was generally below normal, the deficiency being most marked in the south-west and west. The totals ranged from 65 to 60 hours at Craibstone, St Andrews, Forres, and Stonehaven to less than 20 hours at Oban and Prestwick. DECEMBER. The weather of December was dry, with a mean temperature below the average. Conditions were variable in the first half of the month, but in the second mainly anticyclonie. The alternating short spells of fair and of disturbed weather, which characterised most of November, continued until about mid-December. Conditions then became more anticyclonic, and, though by no means settled, continued anticyclonic 0n THE WEATHER OF SCOTLAND IN 1939. 207 and Off until the end of the month. Mainly dry and dull cold weather prevailed during this period, and the last four days of the month were unusually cold. Gales were reported on fourteen days, most frequently in the north, where Lerwrck had gales on ten days. The stormiest weather occurred on the 9th and the 13th. The duration of winds of gale force was 38 hours at Lerwick, 16 at Stornoway, and only 4 at Bell Rock. The mean temperature of the month was below normal in most parts of the country, the greatest deficiency being about 3° F. in the south-west. At a few places in the north and north-west the temperature slightly exceeded the normal. The warmest day generally was the 1st, when 58° F. was registered in Edinburgh, Dunbar, Dunfermhne, and Ayr. This temperature was recorded also at Oban on the 10th. The latter half of the month brought colder weather, West Linton having 10° F. on the 31st, Wolfelee 11° F. on the 19th, and Braemar and Kilmarnock 11° F. and 12° F. respectively on the 29th. Ground frosts were widespread and occurred on all but the first two days of the month. The weather was unusually dry for a winter month, only a few stations in the extreme north-east having about their normal rainfall. In the south-east the amount was less than half the normal. The monthly totals ranged from 8-15 inches at Glen Quoich to 1'75 inch at Kingussie. Daily falls exceed- ing an inch were numerous in the west during the first ten days, but the only station reporting over 2 inches was Ardnadam (2-10 on the 9th). Snow and sleet showers occurred widely on the 4th and 5th and during the last. week. There was, however, no appreciable accumulation. Bar] was reported on eleven days, but no thunder. Sunshine reached the normal amount at only a few scattered stations ; elsewhere it was below normal. The totals ranged from between 37 and 33 hours at Eskdalemuir, Dumfries, Auchincruive, Ayr, St Andrews, and Arbroath to between 12 and 5 hours at Tiree, Paisley, Greenock, and Glasgow— the 5 hours in Glasgow being only 2 per cent of the hours between sunrise and sunset there in December. GENERAL NOTES. The year had a number of outstanding features. The dryness of the spring and late summer months and a heat- Wave in late May and early June contrasted With a very wet and markedly cool July. The weather of early June was brilliant, and for the year as a whole there was a special abundance of sunshine in the west. As in eight of the nine preceding years, the mean annual temperature was above normal; there was, however, a week of excess1ve cold in January. Gales were numerous, but not exceptionally so. q. in Mew/2.219%! '— ‘41 'u e~ |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 109 |
