Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/The Weather of July, 1878

by William Jerome Harrison

Meteorology of the Midlands.

The Weather of July, 1878.

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By. W. Jerome Harrison, F.G.S.

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The rainfall of July presents several interesting features. It is generally below the average, and greatly so in the few places which escaped the severe thunderstorm of the 24th. The return from Cromford of one rainy day only in July was so extraordinary that I wrote specially to Mr. Tissington, who replies, "I beg to say that my return for July is quite correct. I heard of rain falling within a few miles of here, but unfortunately it did not reach us." The dry period, which commenced on June 18th, lasted till the 24th of July. Up to the 17th of the latter month the weather was warm, but the sky cloudy, with a prevalence of north-westerly winds. From the 17th to the 22nd the heat was intense, the thermometer rising daily to above 80°. On the 23rd the temperature fell suddenly, and the next day a succession of thunderstorms visited almost every point in the Midlands, producing the maximum and only important rainfall of the month: in the neighbourhood of Coventry, nearly 2½ inches fell in as many hours. At Coston Rectory, the lightning in this storm was noted as being very vivid, and of a remarkable rosy hue. Afterwards fine weather, but with a lower temperature, prevailed to the end of the month.

The barometer, with the exception of one drop accompanying the thunderstorm alluded to above, was uniformly high and steady, and there were no strong winds. Many reports speak of the excellent hay harvest, which was secured in good condition. The corn, too, improved greatly. Oats were out as Waltham in the last week of the month, and barley near Nottingham on the 23rd.

Of direct solar heat, measured by a thermometer with blackened bulb, in a vacuum, we had at Spondon, 158° on the 20th, and 153° on the 21st, 144.8° at Cheltenham on the 20th, 144° at Leicester on the 20th, 138.2° at Loughhro’ on the 20th, and 133° at Buxton, also on the 20th. Thick night mists with heavy dew are reported from Rotherham, during the middle part of the month, "owing, doubtless, to the drought of nearly five weeks."

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