Sunny76

It’s nice when the sunshine is there, but whenever the storm clouds move in, the temp drops by at least 1-2c and makes it feel chilly. Had to wear a jacket and take it off a few times today.

Yeah that’s right. North Africa has warmed quite a bit since 1987, which in turn has is part of the reason our winters are milder, whenever we get a southerly wind.

Quite an interesting day with sunny warm spells mixed in with sharp showers and thunder and lightning. Was on and off between 11:30 and 4pm.

Hands down, 1995/96 was probably one of the best for cold weather, although not much snow in the London region. Still had a light covering on Boxing Day, and another small dusting in February 96. The 96/97 winter was pretty cold during the early part of December, after a cold November, up until mid January.

I have a feeling this hot snap will be watered down to a 24c by the time we get to early June.

A nice glass of Pimms and Lemonade with sliced fruits and mint. Non alcoholic Mojitos. A cold beer every few weeks or so, or a nice bottle of Koppenberg, or Old Mount cider. Not a fan of soft drinks, but on the odd occasion I'll enjoy an ice cold glass of lemonade, 7Up or Coke.

All this talk lately of 'having some drinks on the terrace' and 'sipping beer in the garden'. What is your favourite tipple?

Well done. I had a feeling we were going to get one around this time, although I'm a few days out. It wasn't as strong in West London, lasted about 30 minutes with distant booming and a loud crack of thunder as the storm moved closer. Quite a lot of distance lightning between 11:20 and midnight, but not more storms beyond that. Not a bad start, and I hope that's just a taste of what's to come between now and late August.

A widespread thunderstorm event has been lacking since about 2017 or 18. 2022 will certainly bring the goods.

I think London will get hit later. Just have a feeling. I remember late May 1999 on a Thursday night bringing some overnight storms in London. This period was quite humid and warm. Another nighttime storm hit around early July on a Sunday night, during another hot spell.

Yes it can be disappointing when it’s only hitting high teens, but with sunshine can feel pleasant. I want it to be 24-25c now, as that makes it comfortable for sitting in the shade, without that nagging chill and my hands turning blue. Yesterday was the first day where it felt nice and summery, with a nice hot feeling.

That was the temp range while I was out in Latvia last week. Sat in the garden for a few days, and with the clear sunny spells it was warm enough or even hot in the strong sunshine for sitting in the garden. However, we couldn’t head to the beach for a day trip, because it needs to be into the 20s for that. 15-19c is too cold for high summer for me, if I want to head to the beach, but those temps are ideal for hiking.

Can’t wait. And there’s already people at my work complaining about it being too hot lol.

Yeah it’s Sod’s law isn’t it lol. I’m off on Friday and early next week, and usually strike it lucky for the time around my birthday, with a few hot days but with a breeze, usually in the 24-27c region. Happened regularly between 2009-12, and then again from 2015 onwards. May 2013 and 21 were the only ones that didn’t play ball when it comes to having a few long hot or very warm sunny days. Even May 2010 and 12(which were quite cold and dull for the first half) turned very warm or hot and sunny towards the final third.

What if one doesn’t want to fly, and would rather have a staycation. Isn’t it nicer to have some warm to hot sunny days for some beach time or countryside walks between May and August? Cool and damp isn’t desirable, and I’m not asking for 28-30c all the time, but at least a few weeks of 24-26c with a few 30-32c days thrown in, with long sunny dry spells, and a thunderstorm or two.

If its not sunny, then 21-24c is a waste. I really hope we don't get stuck into another dull summer set up, which was basically the majority of summer 2021.

All this talk of storms? We had nothing in London.

Yes I can’t knock the spring, with the sunny spells in late March and during April. It’s been a gradual improvement, with the chilly air still lingering until a week or so ago. Now the nights and mornings are starting to get warmer. Hopefully the cold nights won’t be back until September.

Interesting to see this one again. I remember commenting on this a few years back. I remember that week being quite warm or even hot for a while. I saw the lightning and heard the rumbles of thunder, but my part of London didn’t get hit directly. We did however, get the rain so must have been on the edge of the storm. Think Sussex and Surrey took the brunt of those storms.

Not everyone can move abroad. Most people don’t have a choice, mostly because of financial and family ties. I don’t think they do. After what was a damp and wet autumn and early winter, we are due a nice long dry period of sunny and even hot weather. Yes, today is ok, but I wouldn’t be happy if we had a number of days every week being wet and unsettled until August.

It was still cold enough at times.

A very warm May doesn’t necessarily mean a good one, if it’s unsettled. So far it’s been a slight improvement on 2021, and I can’t say anything about this past week, as I’ve been out of the country. Still plenty of time for proper hot sunny weather to develop, and it’s always welcome during the second half of May, as daylight hours are at a premium. Long sunny spells in June would be also great, with long clear spells into the evenings.

Fair enough, but the drawback is the evenings drawing in. The summer feel has gone by September for me.

June 1990 was the letdown month wasn’t it, then it turned warm or hot and sunny for the remainder of July and August.

The 30c in September is a waste if the summer as a whole has been a crapfest, which 2021 was. 2020 wasn’t much better in the main, so for me a sunny warm September isn’t enough to make up for a poor June to August period, especially if sunshine levels are poor. South East usually fairs better, but the last couple of summers and 2019 have been poor in London. Many dull summer days and the Augusts have been woeful. I think I replied to the wrong poster lol.