1935 United Kingdom heatwaves

The 1935 United Kingdom heatwave was a significant meteorological event in the summer months of 1935, characterized by unusually high temperatures across the United Kingdom. This heat wave, while not as extensively documented as some other heatwaves in UK history, left a mark on the weather records of the time.

The year 1935 saw notable weather anomalies in the United Kingdom, including an unusual winter heatwave in January and an exceptionally dry July. ^[1] These events were significant deviations from the expected seasonal climate patterns and were widely reported at the time.

The drought records were not overtaken until the 2022 heatwave. ^[2]

January 1935 winter heatwave

In early January 1935, the United Kingdom experienced a rare winter heatwave, particularly affecting London and parts of Wales and Scotland. Reports from the time indicated that it was the warmest on record since 1806, with temperatures only 4 degrees than the monthly June average. ^{[3] [4]}

The unseasonable warmth led to several unusual seasonal phenomena:

• Roses bloomed in Wales despite in being winter.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Daffodils appeared much earlier than expected in South England.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Spring flowers appeared across areas of Scotland where snow usually would be, high hills across the country remained devoid of usual snow cover.^{[ citation needed ]}

July 1935 drought

July 1935 was marked by an exceptional drought across England, making it one of the driest Julys on record at the time. The Central England Temperature (CET) for the month was recorded at 17.1°C, reflecting above-average warmth.^{[ citation needed ]}

The conditions were caused after unusually thundery June, extensive sunshine was also observed, contributing to parched landscapes and agricultural concerns. Rainfall was also scarce this month. ^[5]

References

1. Harley, Trevor. "1935". Trevor Harley. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
2. Saberi, Roxana (2022-08-11). "England has its driest July in almost 90 years as Europe swelters through historic heat waves - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
3. "Heat Wave Ushers In 1935 January May Be Sunny Month" . British Newspaper Archive . Daily Herald. 1 January 1935. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
4. "WINTER HEAT WAVE IN BRITAIN". Barrier Miner. 1935-01-04. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
5. Rocha, Priscila Azevedo (2022-08-02). "England Records Driest July Since 1935 Amid Searing Heat Wave". Insurance Journal. Retrieved 2025-02-17.