1919 Cold. Wet Spring and Dry Autumn.
In the year that Benito Mussolini founded the 'Italian Fighting League' , later to become the 'National Fascist Party' in Italy; the United Kingdom recognized Afghanistan as an independent Nation, and Lady Astor was elected as the first female Member of Parliament.
Weather Notes:-
28th April - Wet snow brought down power lines and accumulated to a depth of nearly 40cm on the hills north of London,
20th September- Snow fell on high ground above 400m as far south as Dartmoor (Devon).
13th/14th November - The temperature fell below minus 23°C. over more than 40cm of powder snow at Braemar (Aberdeenshire).
In London...
January - Dull, wet and rather cold.
After a cold start to the year it became somewhat milder but very unsettled. On the 3rd, nearly 14mm of rain fell, and during the rest of the month there were only 7 days without measurable rain. It was often windy, too. A mild and quieter interlude around mid month, with a high above 11°C. on the 15th, was followed by a return of unsettled weather, and during the last week it turned very cold and snowy. The maximum temperature on the 31st was only minus 0.9°C.
February - Very dull, cold and wet.
The first fortnight of the month was mostly cold or very cold with plenty of dry and cloudy weather, although occasional snow fell. On the 8th, it was sunny all day, but the temperature only rose to minus 0.5°C. The following night was very cold, but during the second week temperatures slowly rose. After mid month, it was unsettled and generally mllder, On the 16th, nearly 14mm of rain fell was recorded. and on the 22nd the temperature rose above 11°C.
March - Very wet, cold and rather dull.
The first half of March was unsettled with temperatures ranging from rather cold to rather mild. On the 3rd, the temperature reached 13°C., and on the 4th, nearly 14mm of rain fell. The second half of the month was generally colder with some drier days, but also with wet snow falling at times during the last week. On the 25th, the temperature only reached 3.6°C, and although there were spells of sunshine, it remained unseasonably cold until the end of the month.
April - Dull, cold and rather wet.
After an overnight frost, the temperature on the 1st failed to rise above 4.8°C, but then it turned less cold but changeable. After mid month there was a warmer and sunnier spell, and on the 19th the temperature rose above 19°C. However, unsettled weather then returned, and on the 27th more than 24mm of rain was measured, this turning to sleet and wet snow as a depression moved across southern England allowing an incursion of cold northerly winds.
May - Very dry, warm and rather sunny.
The early part of the month was unsettled, and on the 1st over 6 mm of rain fell. This was 1 of only 4 days when measurable rain occurred during May. On the 7th, the temperature only reached 12.2°C, but after the 9th, no rain fell during the remainder of the month and it was generally warm and fairly sunny. The warmest weather occurred at the start of the fourth week, with a high above 25°C. on the 23rd. However, chilly nights occurred at the end of May.
June - Dry and rather cool with near normal sunshine.
The May drought extended into the middle of the first week of June, but after a little rain on the 4th, there were only 5 further days with measurable rain during the whole month. It became very warm during the second week with plenty of sunshine, and on the 11th the temperature exceeded 27°C. Att the end of the third week it turned cooler and became generally more unsettled. On the 20th, nearly 26mm of rain fell and the highest temperature on the 26th was only 13.8°C.
July - Very cool and dull with above average rainfall.
In this very poor month, there was extensive cloud cover, especially during the afternoons, and this led to many cool or very cool days. On the 8th, the temperature only reached 13.0°C, but after a very chilly night, the following day was warmer with a maximum exceeding 23°C. The warmest and sunniest weather occurred just after mid month. The temperature reached 25°C. on the 18th, but poor summer conditions returned with more than 14mm of rain falling on the 20th.
August - Rather warm and sunny with below average rainfall.
There was plenty of dry, sunny and rather warm or warm weather during the first 3 weeks of the month, and from the 3rd until the 18th of August inclusive there was no measurable rainfall. The temperature on the 9th almost reached 29°C. Nights were often rather cool, and from the 19th days were also cooler as the weather became increasingly unsettled. On the 28th, over 27mm of rain fell and the maximum temperature on the following day only rose to 15.9°C.
September - Rather dry and cool with above average sunshine.
The first 2 weeks of September were mostly dry, sunny and warm or very warm. On the 11yj, the tempersture reached 28°C. It then became rather changeable, and on the 14th, nearly 17mm of rain fell. At the end of the third week it became much colder. On the 20th, the temperature only rose to 12.2°C, with a similar high occurring on the 28th. The nights at the end of the month were unusually cold with grass frosts and, on the night of the 29th/30th, an air frost.
October - Very dry, cold and sunny.
After a warm start to the month, with the temperature rising above 18°C. on the 1st, it became much cooler with more than half the nights during the month experiencing a ground frost. Several air frosts occurred too, especially towards the end of October when days also became cold. On the 28th, the maximum temperature was only 6.4°C. measurable rain fell on 9 days during October, but it was light, although nearly 4mm was recorded on the 24th.
November - Very cold, dry and rather dull.
The opening fortnight of the month was mostly dull with winds blowing from a cold northerly point. Light rain and drizzle occurred at times, and even a little sleet. After mid month, it became brighter but still mostly cold. On the 23rd, the temperature rose close to 14°C, but after a sharp frost, the high on the 27th was only 2.2°C. Sleet or snow was observed on 8 days during November, but precipitation was mostly light. However, on the 29th nearly 7mm of rain fell.
December - Very dull, wet and rather mild.
This was a very unsettled month with only 7 days without measurable rain. However, much of the rain was light and drizzly. The wettest day was the 1st when over 17mm of rain was measured. Most days were mild but a short cold snap began at the end of the first week, and on the 9th the temperature only reached 2.6°C. There were several overnight frosts, but mild weather soon returned and remained for the rest of December.On the 23rd, the high was above 12°C.
28th April - Wet snow brought down power lines and accumulated to a depth of nearly 40cm on the hills north of London,
20th September- Snow fell on high ground above 400m as far south as Dartmoor (Devon).
13th/14th November - The temperature fell below minus 23°C. over more than 40cm of powder snow at Braemar (Aberdeenshire).
In London...
| Temperature | 9.3°C | Rainfall | 616.5 mm | Warmest | 28.9°C |
| Sunshine | 1407 hrs | Coldest | -6.7°C |
January - Dull, wet and rather cold.
| Mean Temperature | 3.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.5°C | Total Rain | 90 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.8°C | Total Sun | 31 hrs |
After a cold start to the year it became somewhat milder but very unsettled. On the 3rd, nearly 14mm of rain fell, and during the rest of the month there were only 7 days without measurable rain. It was often windy, too. A mild and quieter interlude around mid month, with a high above 11°C. on the 15th, was followed by a return of unsettled weather, and during the last week it turned very cold and snowy. The maximum temperature on the 31st was only minus 0.9°C.
February - Very dull, cold and wet.
| Mean Temperature | 2.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 11.5°C | Total Rain | 56 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -6.7°C | Total Sun | 30 hrs |
The first fortnight of the month was mostly cold or very cold with plenty of dry and cloudy weather, although occasional snow fell. On the 8th, it was sunny all day, but the temperature only rose to minus 0.5°C. The following night was very cold, but during the second week temperatures slowly rose. After mid month, it was unsettled and generally mllder, On the 16th, nearly 14mm of rain fell was recorded. and on the 22nd the temperature rose above 11°C.
March - Very wet, cold and rather dull.
| Mean Temperature | 4.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.0°C | Total Rain | 78 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.8°C | Total Sun | 91 hrs |
The first half of March was unsettled with temperatures ranging from rather cold to rather mild. On the 3rd, the temperature reached 13°C., and on the 4th, nearly 14mm of rain fell. The second half of the month was generally colder with some drier days, but also with wet snow falling at times during the last week. On the 25th, the temperature only reached 3.6°C, and although there were spells of sunshine, it remained unseasonably cold until the end of the month.
April - Dull, cold and rather wet.
| Mean Temperature | 7.7°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 19.3°C | Total Rain | 59 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -1.2°C | Total Sun | 106 hrs |
After an overnight frost, the temperature on the 1st failed to rise above 4.8°C, but then it turned less cold but changeable. After mid month there was a warmer and sunnier spell, and on the 19th the temperature rose above 19°C. However, unsettled weather then returned, and on the 27th more than 24mm of rain was measured, this turning to sleet and wet snow as a depression moved across southern England allowing an incursion of cold northerly winds.
May - Very dry, warm and rather sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 14.2°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 25.2°C | Total Rain | 9 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 5.2°C | Total Sun | 239 hrs |
The early part of the month was unsettled, and on the 1st over 6 mm of rain fell. This was 1 of only 4 days when measurable rain occurred during May. On the 7th, the temperature only reached 12.2°C, but after the 9th, no rain fell during the remainder of the month and it was generally warm and fairly sunny. The warmest weather occurred at the start of the fourth week, with a high above 25°C. on the 23rd. However, chilly nights occurred at the end of May.
June - Dry and rather cool with near normal sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 15.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 27.6°C | Total Rain | 30 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 5.2°C | Total Sun | 220 hrs |
The May drought extended into the middle of the first week of June, but after a little rain on the 4th, there were only 5 further days with measurable rain during the whole month. It became very warm during the second week with plenty of sunshine, and on the 11th the temperature exceeded 27°C. Att the end of the third week it turned cooler and became generally more unsettled. On the 20th, nearly 26mm of rain fell and the highest temperature on the 26th was only 13.8°C.
July - Very cool and dull with above average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 14.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 25.1°C | Total Rain | 67 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 6.4°C | Total Sun | 119 hrs |
In this very poor month, there was extensive cloud cover, especially during the afternoons, and this led to many cool or very cool days. On the 8th, the temperature only reached 13.0°C, but after a very chilly night, the following day was warmer with a maximum exceeding 23°C. The warmest and sunniest weather occurred just after mid month. The temperature reached 25°C. on the 18th, but poor summer conditions returned with more than 14mm of rain falling on the 20th.
August - Rather warm and sunny with below average rainfall.
| Mean Temperature | 17.6°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 28.9°C | Total Rain | 54 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | 7.2°C | Total Sun | 227 hrs |
There was plenty of dry, sunny and rather warm or warm weather during the first 3 weeks of the month, and from the 3rd until the 18th of August inclusive there was no measurable rainfall. The temperature on the 9th almost reached 29°C. Nights were often rather cool, and from the 19th days were also cooler as the weather became increasingly unsettled. On the 28th, over 27mm of rain fell and the maximum temperature on the following day only rose to 15.9°C.
September - Rather dry and cool with above average sunshine.
| Mean Temperature | 13.9°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 28.2°C | Total Rain | 37 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -0.7°C | Total Sun | 153 hrs |
The first 2 weeks of September were mostly dry, sunny and warm or very warm. On the 11yj, the tempersture reached 28°C. It then became rather changeable, and on the 14th, nearly 17mm of rain fell. At the end of the third week it became much colder. On the 20th, the temperature only rose to 12.2°C, with a similar high occurring on the 28th. The nights at the end of the month were unusually cold with grass frosts and, on the night of the 29th/30th, an air frost.
October - Very dry, cold and sunny.
| Mean Temperature | 7.4°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 18.5°C | Total Rain | 14 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -2.0°C | Total Sun | 121 hrs |
After a warm start to the month, with the temperature rising above 18°C. on the 1st, it became much cooler with more than half the nights during the month experiencing a ground frost. Several air frosts occurred too, especially towards the end of October when days also became cold. On the 28th, the maximum temperature was only 6.4°C. measurable rain fell on 9 days during October, but it was light, although nearly 4mm was recorded on the 24th.
November - Very cold, dry and rather dull.
| Mean Temperature | 4.1°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 13.9°C | Total Rain | 27 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -3.4°C | Total Sun | 45 hrs |
The opening fortnight of the month was mostly dull with winds blowing from a cold northerly point. Light rain and drizzle occurred at times, and even a little sleet. After mid month, it became brighter but still mostly cold. On the 23rd, the temperature rose close to 14°C, but after a sharp frost, the high on the 27th was only 2.2°C. Sleet or snow was observed on 8 days during November, but precipitation was mostly light. However, on the 29th nearly 7mm of rain fell.
December - Very dull, wet and rather mild.
| Mean Temperature | 6.0°C | ||
| Monthly Highest | 12.3°C | Total Rain | 95 mm |
| Monthly Lowest | -4.9°C | Total Sun | 25 hrs |
