cheese

Given the BBC is our national broadcaster and the Met Office our national met agency - both funded by the taxpayer - why on earth should one pay for access to the other's services?

Seems common, doesn't it? I've looked at data from Leeds Weather Centre and and the final 5-7 days of August being much cooler than the rest of the month is a recurrent theme, though it isn't always the case. August 1990 had a warm final week, for example, and so did August 1991.

At least next week we should stay mostly dry up here - was looking like a washout but the models have now seemed to agree on the bulk or all the rainfall just staying south of here. Possibly some heavy showers around. Highs of around 19-21C depending on the day. Could be worse, I suppose. Oh, and more T&L today. Not much though - some very heavy rain, and a further 14mm. My back garden has moss.. not a common sight by any means. Monthly rainfall is now 80mm but only on 6 days and more than half has fallen within the past 48 hours alone! Usually such wet months have 10+ rain days. The fact that most of it has fallen from thunderstorms means I don't care.

Laura Tobin has a degree in physics I believe - not sure if that counts! She's working for ITV these days anyway.

Apparently not.. more T&L.

Another storm rumbled through here, this time with very bright pink lightning. Surely that's it for today - we've copped out.

Shropshire got a thunderstorm - praise the lord!

Looks like the US plains. More thunder to the south - and dark skies.

The thunder is definitely the talking point.. it's constant. Just unrelenting. Lightning is barely there - and boy, that leading edge was powerful stuff. Seriously, the heaviest rain I've seen in years.

I noticed that they were taking a more NW track but then change to a NE track - must be wind direction.

Another shower passed by - but fairly light, few cracks of thunder. Another one to the SE but I suspect it will pass by along the M1 like the last one. Seriously - the M1 must be the thundriest place in northern England, because without fail the storms track along up there.

Thought you might have done better in Garforth. It's even muggier now - DP up to 19C with RH of 81%. Sun's back out.

Torrential rain - but the sun is still shining. Is this Florida?

Wow.. that thunder is continuous. Never heard anything like it. Just constant droning. Shame it's literally skirting by here a few miles east - such is the way I suppose.

Can hear thunder now.

Good sign. There are cells immediately south of Leeds - no thunder here but has gone very dark. And now it's raining.. big convective drops..

25C in Leeds.. dew point is 17.3C. Sun is shining. Looking good.

The sun's coming out here.. let's get things started. What??

I'm trying to curb my enthusiasm - but it's not often you find yourself under a moderate warning. Fingers crossed!

I had a good storm on my birthday in 2013, 22 August. Will I be treated to another this year? Hopefully!

A few light showers, but a largely dry day - heavy cloud early in the morning gave way to partly cloudy skies later. Overnight low 17.7C. Currently 22.9C after a maximum of 24C, and mostly sunny skies. Feeling very nice, and the humidity is offset by the gentle breeze. A better day than was originally forecast, that's for sure.

Each to their own - though I think most of us will take any settled, warm weather we can, regardless of the time of year. Beggars can't be choosers anyway!

It's a nice day. What's the problem? The humidity is like a warm blanket. More please.

So you'd rather have cool, unsettled weather over warm, settled weather, just because it's nearly September? Am I missing something? I find that really strange - surely given the choice the latter is vastly more appealing.