Summer of 95

Same here, add NW and overhead. Some thunder booming around too but not a drop of rain and clear patches through which stars are visible.

I think Church Lawford was showing hotter than Shawbury, but Shawbury is nearly always a degree or two colder than Shrewsbury. I wish Preston Montford would put their temps up somewhere for me to compare to. That reverse Cheshire Gap effect is showing right to the coast, Liverpool at 25-26 while inland northern England is struggling to top 22 in many places.

Dipped to 28.1 an hour ago now back up to 29.0- this SSE wind direction is fantastic, it's making a kind of reverse Cheshire Gap effect. Shawbury is 3C warmer than Hereford at 1700, for a change!

22.1 at Kinloss, 21.7 at Edinburgh.... it seems to be just from Lincs up to the Scottish border that's suffering.

Back garden now up to 29.5, equals 1st Aug last year as the warmest since 2006. I see the Hebrides are having a decent day too: 23.5 at Skye, 21.5 at Tiree, 21.0 at South Uist at 1500. But what's going on in Yorkshire and the Humber? Most of that reason is stuck at 17-19C.

Warmed up somewhat in past hour or two, shaded thermometer in back garden showing a respectable 28.6C. So beaten yesterday. How are the E Mids doing? MO had most of it stuck on 21-23C at 2pm, thats nearly 10C below the forecast!

Sun breaking through from time to time, but doesn't seem any hotter than yesterday especially with that strong Sly breeze. Only hope is a repeat of 1st Aug 2013 when it jumped about 3pm from 23 to 29.

Yes. Flash. And crash- it's overhead! Don't know where this has come from, the main band has moved through and the sun was out 15 mins ago.

Thunder now! After typing that... May have been an isolated rumble but it was a rumble... And another , started raining again

Surprise surprise nothing here. Everything coming up from the south is useless. Just need the cloud to get lost to hopefully get our 30C now....

Lincoln is north of here and nearer the coast, so surely we should top 30 if they can? As for storms, I wont get excited about anything in the SW, they invariably die over S Shropshire or go to Birmingham. Just hope they dont leave us with a load of dead cloud that spoils tomorrow.

Shawbury has finally topped 25 according to the Met Office (25.2 at 1500), is that everywhere in the Midlands under 250m now? 17th July is really late, even 2012 did it in May.

Reading 26.8 in the shade in back garden- the first time it's topped 25 even in that sheltered place this summer. By and large the dreaded clouding over hasn't happened, there is a fair bit of haze around though.

Still not reached 25C here- this is the latest for years even though it hasn't been a bad summer overall. This "hot" spell, it is going to be a real one or just a 30C in London while everywhere else is cloudy and low 20s? Like that one in August 2012 and many many more... That sort of thing is even worse than nonstop Atlantic grot to me.

Turned into a decent afternoon after suddenly clouding over about 10am. Large patches of blue sky and 21C.

Wish this front would either produce some rain or sod off. All its done is make it cloud over and stay irritatingly humid, without giving any weather. Its been here since 10 this morning and done nothing. Will this heatwave produce? No point having a low too close producing cloudy humid crap or worst of all a SE only hot spell.

1995 was the last time we had a "good" August here, 2007 the last time we had a "reasonable" one. 2003 struggled to make the latter classification, it had one or two hot days and a load of cloudy boring ones, it was like a warmer version of 2011. It was such a let down here that I hate to be reminded of it by Southeasterners likening it to 76/95/06 etc. 2009 could have been nice, but the heat refused to budge beyond the SE. The sunshine made it here from time to time but it was very frustrating. 2012 had another SE only heatwave (notice a pattern here?) then 2013 had 3 cracking days to start before going all cloudy and boring again. 2005 was OK, a bit like last month, never outstandingly warm but often pleasant enough. 2007 I'd actually rate the best August of the 21st century, despite the wet June and July.

Exactly the same here, one band of cirrus passed over quickly at midday but cleared behind it. Now 23C- what does it take to get a 25C here this year? Had plenty of gorgeous sunny days that you'd put money on to do it, yet none reached it.

Had a couple of heavyish downpours but no thunder.

Been drizzling gunk for about 2 hours now. No sun at all since early yesterday morning.

With 37.9 at Shawbury, Dyce, Boulmer and Valley while London only reaches 17- that would be awesome

Jack all here, Sun gave way to cloud by 10am but no showers. Boring boring....

0056- Yep, really bright one visible low down just east of due north. Only visible through gap in low cloud, but even with that it stands out.

Much better day with long sunny spells and lower humidity. Feels quite warm in the sun and the wind has dropped too.

Nothing higher than 24 here, would be really nice if for once the yearly high was outside the southeast/E Anglia. It often was before the late 90s. Surely not the first year ever not to top 25 here?