A Fine Summer's Day in the North.

[iapennell]

Here is a description of a fine day with clear skies associated with an area of high-pressure extending from the Azores that we can have increased optimism is likely at some point during late June. The scene will be described for the Tyne Valley in Northumberland, should this sort of weather unfold here it will for most of Britain (and be even hotter by day in the South and Midlands) :

We start at midnight. The skies are clear and the westerly breeze has died away. A full moon is very low and orange -looking in the southern sky and the stars of the Summer Triangle -Vega almost overhead, Deneb high in the NE sky and Altair lower in the east- twinkle brightly. The bright orange star Arcturus twinkles high up in the SW sky. The silence of the night is punctuated by the intermittent hoot of an owl. The temperature drops to a cool 10C and dew forms on the meadows with mist developing in the Tyne Valley. 

After a few hours of gentle darkness - the twilight never dissappears from the northern horizon at this time of year, the north-east sky brightens and the moon sets. Then a cacophony of bird-song erupts as the sun rises into the NE sky turning the meadows into a sheen of sparkling drops of dew. Early mist shrouds the sleepy towns of Hexham and Corbridge though this soon clears. There is not much traffic and early-morning joggers are seen running along the pavements on the outskirts of these towns.

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[iapennell]

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As the Sun rises higher in the eastern sky during the morning the dew vanishes from the meadows and the verges and the flowers - the sorrel, cow-parseley, clovers,buttercups, saxifrage and lilies glow brilliantly in the Sun as the myriad birds continue their morning choruses. In Hexham and Corbridge there is a hubbub of activity as traffic increases and families make their ways to shops (this being a Saturday). On the country roads to Allendale, Alston and Bellingham the screaming roar of motorbikes commences and cyclists ride three-abreast in big groups, making the most of the Sun. In the rural areas away from the towns the sound of farmers with their tractors can be heard; in meadows where they cut the long grass to make hay and the sound of balers can also be heard in the meadows. 

By midday the Sun is close to 60 degrees elevation above the southern horizon and though a lazy westerly breeze blows the temperature in the shade reaches a hot 28C in the Tyne Valley. The towns of Hexham and Corbridge are packed with cars and shoppers. Young men go into Wetherspoons in shorts and with nothing on top and get rowdy with a few drinks but nevertheless enjoying the sun and the European Championship on the telly in this pub and other pubs around the Tyne Valley. In the towns the many drivers are getting hot and bothered and the busy hubbub is punctuated by the sounds of horns beeping and the odd driver yelling. The many bikers and cyclists lead to similar beeping horns on the country roads as motorists get frustrated in the heat with being stuck behind large groups of cyclists, etc.

The A69 towards Newcastle becomes very busy on this hot sunny day as hundreds of families head to the Coast and others head west from Tyneside to the Northumbrian countryside and to the Lakes to enjoy the weather. However the heat and traffic lead to more beeping horns breaking through the sticky atmosphere.

In the meadows sheep and cattle lie down in the shelter of north-facing walls and under the blooming horse-chestnuts (with their white flowers) in order to stay cool. The country gardens along with those in the towns,  including the Sele in Hexham, are a blaze of colour - deep red roses, purple lavender, pansies, geraniums and a whole host of white, yellow, blue and pink bedding plants gleaming brightly in the blazing sunshine. Along the River Tyne folk are out in their boats and kayaks and children play along the banks of the river, periodic squeals of delight punctuate the stifling atmosphere as the children splash each other with water and keep cool. Further up the banks sit the mothers and fathers with the picnics for their children, they are stripped to the waist and have sun-tan lotion out so that they can make the most of the Sun.

It is afternoon and the bird-song of morning has gone. The traffic eases as folk retreat to their homes in the heat of the day. By 4pm the temperature is close to 30C in the Tyne Valley. In the meadows there is not much sound but the buzz of flies and the wirr of machinery as farmers turn the cut grass so that it dries in the Sun. From time to time the peace is interrupted by the loud zoom of motorbikes. 

As evening falls the Sun sinks low in the north-west sky and the air cools gradually. The blue sky is tinged with pink from a slight haze and the towns come to life as people head out to pubs and clubs. In the warm atmosphere the men go out in their shorts and the young ladies in short skirts and low tops. Music blasts out from the pubs and clubs inviting all and sundry to the party in the warm tranquil atmosphere, the party surely gets underway as the evening progresses and J.D Wetherspoons in Hexham gets packed-out with increasingly drunken men and women spilling out onto the street enjoying the good life with an Alfresco touch to the setting. 

The Sun sets a glorious red in the NW at 10pm and the air cools rapidly as the breeze dies away. The sound of bats can be heard over country meadows and the blaring of lambs trying to find their mothers punctuates the evening silence. The moon rises a golden colour into the south-east sky as a gentle darkness falls and a hush descends over the Tyne Valley. 

So ends a glorious summer's day!