Agnostick

I agree with you - it feels far fresher and cooler outside now (although it feels warm indoors still even with windows open). It'll certainly be nice to have a night without the incessant heat of the last few days though!

I am sick to death of this blasted heat.

For the first time since May we get our first true dark night this morning. Just a shame it's overcast so I can't see it but at least we've reached that threshold now. The nights are starting to draw in faster, and autumn feels like it isn't that far off.

Just had a very brief light shower now. Not enough to wet the ground but a few spots of rain falling. Dry again now though and still just as hot as earlier. This reminds me a little of that spell in July 2015, with maybe a little less cloud around here.

Speaking as someone who is no fan of hot weather this has been a fascinating day of weather watching. The speculation was fun but it looks like we won't quite beat that all-time record. Still, it was a fun old day for us weather watchers. As for my own temps here in the west midlands it got to 36 in my back garden, so stupidly hot all the same. Now bring on the fresher weather!

Absolutely putrid out there at the moment. Really humid and sticky and the thundery rain hasn't really helped at all. I'll be glad when this summer's over.

36.2c at Heathrow on Thursday.

I really can't wait for this spell to end. Call me a spoilsport but hot weather really makes me grouchy. The only good news for me is the fact that it being late July there's only another month or so for eany real heat potential left; that, and the shortening days and longer nights.

I'd hardly call this year totally forgettable. There was that notable warm spell in Februaury, and those severe gales in March. OK, this summer has been disappointing for heat lovers but there's still time for a few heatwaves yet.