Harry's House

I was living in Essex in 1972. I left school in June and joined the Met Office (working at Stansted Airport) in September. I remember the remarkable lack of warmth in May and June but not much rain so that there were concerns of water shortages, at least in the SE, despite the absence of any heat waves or lasting settled spells. The summer did improve though. I went on holiday to Scotland with my Dad in July during a fine anticyclonic spell - unusually good weather for Scotland in July. August as I remember was at least reasonably good.

Even in the good summers of 2006, 2013 and 2018, the Augusts were not too settled.

The windiness here seems so unseasonable to me.

Yes - really.. honest ..proper dry. Rainfall was moderate for only short periods of time and it did not 'belt' down.

Ground dry and in some parts cracking here too. Last Saturday when we had evening thunderstorms we only had moderate rain for a little while, as well as yesterday evening. Not nearly enough as it soon dried out.

Quite a few discharges, mainly to SE'ly, odd spots of rain.

Quite a few discharges, mainly to SE'ly, odd spots of rain.

This wind has certainly taken away the humidity here. Doors slammed shut by wind blowing through open windows.

Definitely more uncomfortable heat than yesterday with unstable sky.

Definitely more uncomfortable heat than yesterday with unstable sky.

Today sunny and heat not oppressive.

Warm and sunny now. Earlier this morning, there was quite a bit of Ac Cas.

I used to be brontophobic when I was young for a number of years. My parents, though good and loving in many respects, were disappointingly unsympathetic. They were born at a time when there was less understanding of such things - they would be in their 100's if they were alive today. When I was 13 we went on holiday to Switzerland in August - not a good choice of country in that respect - thunder was heard just about every other day. You are so right, Tom, when you say that sometimes the anticipatory fear is worse than the thunderstorm itself. Regards, Harry's House

A very disappointing day here with some rain earlier, still cloudy.

Distant lightning to W or SW. I wonder if I will miss out tonight?

Distant lightning to W or SW. I wonder if I will miss out tonight?

Heard thunder on 5 days in May, nearly all of it overnight.

Heard a rumble of thunder shortly before 1am and had a thunderstorm soon before 4am this morning.

It was a dramatic thunderstorm yesterday late evening with very frequent lightning and continuous thunder; some heavy rain. I lost broadband and TV signals, also our water went off, for a time.

It was a dramatic thunderstorm yesterday late evening with very frequent lightning and continuous thunder; some heavy rain. I lost broadband and TV signals, also our water went off, for a time.

Have thunder with frequent lightning mainly to S'ly.

Distant thunder now

Frequent sheet lightning now to S/SW'ly.

Fresh here too, quite a breeze.

Did get a just little more thunder around 2.45 this morning in the distance.