July 1935 - Very dry, sunny and warm; a forgotten summer month.

[LetItSnow!]

The summers of 1933 and 1934 get brought up a lot in the history book of fine summers but 1935 wasn't without its moments.

July 1935 was a warm month with a C.E.T. of 17.1C and it was very dry with an EWP of 27.2mm as well as being very sunny. It came after an exceptionally thundery June. The first half of June 1935 was cool and unusually cyclonic but flipped to very hot, humid and thundery from the 19th onward with some tropical nights. Very similar month June 2019.

Some facts about July 1935.

"The weather of the month was distinguished by an almost universal excess of sunshine, a large deficiency of rainfall except at some stations in the west and north of Scotland and an unusual number of warm days, particularly in south and east England.

Mean temperature exceeded the average in all districts, the excess varying from 0-5°F. in Scotland, W. to 3.0°F. in England, S.E., and 3-1°F. in the Midlands.
The warmest period occurred generally from the 9th to 16th, with its peak around the 13th, but it was also warm from the 22nd or 23rd to the 28th. Temperature, on the 13th, rose to 92°F. at Attenborough, 91°F. at Worcester and 90°F. at Wakefield and Huddersfield. The number of warm days was unusual at some places in south-east and east England; for example, 80°F. was reached or exceeded on 13 days both at Rickmansworth and South Farnborough. The coolest spell was from the 17th to 21st, though the first week was rather cool in some parts, particularly in the west and north. Some low minimum temperatures were recorded on the 30th and 31st: at Rickmansworth, the reading 32°F. on the 31st. is the lowest temperature recorded there in July since records began in 1929. The extreme range for the month in England and Wales, 60°F., is noteworthy.

The extremes for the month were: (England and Wales) 92°F. at Attenborough on the 13th, 32°F. at Rickmansworth on the 31st; (Scotland) 84°F. at Liberton on the 13th, 34°F. at Dalwhinnie on the 30th; (Ireland) 81°F. at Newcastle, County Wicklow, on the 13th and 37°F. at Markree Castle on the 11th.

The general precipitation of the British Isles expressed as a percentage of the normal for the period 1881-1915 was 41, the values for the constituent countries being England and Wales 30, Scotland 75 and Ireland 36.

In Scotland, rainfall exceeded the average in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, at a few places in the West Highlands and also around Aberdeen: elsewhere there was a deficiency, which was usually greatest in eastern and central districts. Less than 20 per cent of the average was registered locally in County Cork and at a large number of stations scattered over England and Wales, while less than 10 per cent was received at some places in England. It was the driest July at numerous stations since records are available (e.g., at Eastbourne since 1887, at Teignmouth since 1871, at Newquay since 1893 and at Holyhead since 1871). In marked contrast was the excess in the Shetland Islands, where Baltasound recorded about 300 per cent of the average.

Local thunderstorms were reported at times, notably on the night of the 1st to 2nd, on the 11th, 14th, 18th and 20th. Among the heaviest falls in 24 hours or less may be mentioned: 1st. 83 mm. at Exbury, Hants., 57 mm. at Winchester (nearly all of which fell in 2 hours) and 53 mm. at Southampton, during thunderstorms.
11th. 39 mm. in about 14 hours during a thunderstorm at Long Ashton.
17th. 34 mm. at Bidston, Liverpool, mainly during a thunder- storm early on the 18th.
19th. 44 mm. at Borrowdale.
20th. 109 mm. at Baltasound, 86 mm. at Lerwick and 49 mm. at Deerness.

One of the most striking features of the weather of the month was the excessive duration of bright sunshine. For districts 1-10 the percentage of the average amounted to 132. The greatest excess was enjoyed in the eastern and Midland districts of England and southern Scotland. (See Table I).
On the south-east and east coasts of England from Eastbourne to Lowestoft, nearly every station registered a daily average of more than 10 hours, while Dover had an average of 10-52 hours. At numerous places in Great Britain, it was the sunniest July since records began, and at Yarmouth it was the sunniest month of any name since records were started in 1908. At many English stations there was not a single sunless day."

A month of frequent usuable warmth and buckets of sunshine and some decent heat (33C on the 13th) and very few rain days. I think many would happily take a repeat for July 2024.

August 1935 was also decent with the month being mostly warm, dry and sunny up until the 22nd though it did turn very unsettled to end the summer. The first week continues the endless summer sun of July with temperatures peaking at 31C on the 7th, then more unsettled for a time before another heatwave with 32C on the 22nd. Autumnal thereafter.

A decent summer with something for everyone. The third one in a row.

June 1935 (+0.8C / 144%) / July 1935 (+1.0C / 34%) / August 1935 (+0.9C / 78%)