Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship

[Harry's House]

June 1957, a glorious month

[CryoraptorA303]

June 1957 has joined the competition, nominated by Harry's House!

Current entrants:

August 2003 (Summer8906)

August 2020 (LetItSnow)

July 2022 (Summer of 95)

July 2013 (daveinSB)

July 2006 (Row w)

July 2021 (matty40s)

June/July 1976 (Metwatch)

September 2023 (rwtwm)

August 2022 (SummerShower)

August/September 1906 (alexisj9)

July 1983 (Freeze)

August 1990 (Capser)

August 1997 (hillbilly)

August 1911 (Harry's House)

August 1995 (AderynCoch)

July 2019 (R Alto)

August 1947 (MP-R)

August 1975 (hillbilly)

May/June 1947 (hillbilly)

June/July 2018 (Sun Chaser)

August 1930 (Metwatch)

August 1932 (Metwatch)

August 1955 (Freeze)

June 2023 (Summer Shower)

September 2016 (Catherine91)

June 2010 (WYorksWeather)

June 2017 (WYorksWeather)

June 2022 (WYorksWeather)

June 1995 (Summer of 95)

July 2016 (Summer of 95)

July 1921 (Weather-history)

July 1923 (Weather-history)

July 2014 (SummerShower)

July 1959 (A Face Like Thunder)

August 1959 (A Face Like Thunder)

September 1973 (Harry's House)

June 1957 (Harry's House)

[CryoraptorA303]

May 1922 and May 1944 have joined the competition, nominated by Capser!

Current entrants:

August 2003 (Summer8906) 2

August 2020 (LetItSnow) 2

July 2022 (Summer of 95) 0

July 2013 (daveinSB) 2

July 2006 (Row w) 2

July 2021 (matty40s) 2

June/July 1976 (Metwatch) 0

September 2023 (rwtwm) 2

August 2022 (SummerShower) 0

August/September 1906 (alexisj9) 2

July 1983 (Freeze) 1

August 1990 (Capser) 0

August 1997 (hillbilly) 0

August 1911 (Harry's House) 0

August 1995 (AderynCoch) 2

July 2019 (R Alto) 2

August 1947 (MP-R) 2

August 1975 (hillbilly) 0

May/June 1947 (hillbilly) 0

June/July 2018 (Sun Chaser) 2

August 1930 (Metwatch) 0

August 1932 (Metwatch) 0

August 1955 (Freeze) 1

June 2023 (Summer Shower) 0

September 2016 (Catherine91) 2

June 2010 (WYorksWeather) 0

June 2017 (WYorksWeather) 0

June 2022 (WYorksWeather) 0

June 1995 (Summer of 95) 0

July 2016 (Summer of 95) 0

July 1921 (Weather-history) 1

July 1923 (Weather-history) 1

July 2014 (SummerShower) 0

July 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 1

August 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 1

September 1973 (Harry's House) 0

June 1957 (Harry's House) 0

May 1922 (Capser) 0

May 1944 (Capser) 0

Italic number denotes how many nominations each nominator has left

[A Face like Thunder]

OK, May 1978, last two weeks, London & SE, a glorious two weeks in an otherwise forgettable summer.

Any chance of getting these into date order now for easy reference, thanks?

[CryoraptorA303]

22 minutes ago, A Face like Thunder said:

OK, May 1978, last two weeks, London & SE, a glorious two weeks in an otherwise forgettable summer.

Unfortunately, there was no heatwave in May 1978. Any warm spell must achieve at least three consecutive days of 28.0C or higher to be eligible. There is such a spell from May 31st-June 4th if you'd like to nominate May/June 1978 instead?

23 minutes ago, A Face like Thunder said:

Any chance of getting these into date order now for easy reference, thanks?

Of course, I'll sort them chronologically from the next nomination

[Freeze]

Ill try late September- early October 2011 if that's allowed?

[cheeky_monkey]

Im surprised no one has mentioned July 1994...i wont but someone else can because the rules are dumb and will all know there is no touching 1976 & 1995 no matter how you spin it.

[Freeze]

6 minutes ago, cheeky_monkey said:

Im surprised no one has mentioned July 1994...i wont but someone else can because the rules are dumb and will all know there is no touching 1976 & 1995 no matter how you spin it.

Well it's only on top for consecutive 32c days isnt it? For example august 2020 beats 1976 in consecutive 34c+ days so it depends on how you compare.

I mean,it's like a game of top trumps, 1976 and 1995 don't win on every single compartment.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Freeze

[LetItSnow!]

2 minutes ago, cheeky_monkey said:

Im surprised no one has mentioned July 1994...i wont but someone else can because the rules are dumb and will all know there is no touching 1976 & 1995 no matter how you spin it.

I mean you might as well since you just said it. It's only a game!

[CryoraptorA303]

September/October 2011 has entered the competition, nominated by Freeze!

Current entrants:

August/September 1906 (alexisj9) 2

August 1911 (Harry's House) 0

July 1921 (Weather-history) 1

May 1922 (Capser) 0

July 1923 (Weather-history) 1

August 1930 (Metwatch) 0

August 1932 (Metwatch) 0

May 1944 (Capser) 0

May/June 1947 (hillbilly) 0

August 1947 (MP-R) 2

August 1955 (Freeze) 0

June 1957 (Harry's House) 0

July 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 1

August 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 1

September 1973 (Harry's House) 0

August 1975 (hillbilly) 0

June/July 1976 (Metwatch) 0

July 1983 (Freeze) 0

August 1990 (Capser) 0

June 1995 (Summer of 95) 0

August 1995 (AderynCoch) 2

August 1997 (hillbilly) 0

August 2003 (Summer8906) 2

July 2006 (Row w) 2

June 2010 (WYorksWeather) 0

September/October 2011 (Freeze) 0

July 2013 (DaveinSB) 2

July 2014 (SummerShower) 0

July 2016 (Summer of 95) 0

September 2016 (Catherine91) 2

June 2017 (WYorksWeather) 0

June/July 2018 (Sun Chaser) 2

July 2019 (R Alto) 2

August 2020 (LetItSnow!) 2

July 2021 (matty40s) 2

June 2022 (WYorksWeather) 0

July 2022 (Summer of 95) 0

August 2022 (SummerShower) 0

June 2023 (SummerShower) 0

September 2023 (rwtwm) 2

Italics denote how many nominations each nominator has left

As requested, I have taken the time to list all entrants in chronological order for easier reading. Apologies if I have missed any entrants out, the comment above among other things distracted me Please let me know if you spot a missing entrant.

For clarification, September/October 2011 is, to my knowledge, the only October period on record to be eligible for entry. October 1921 unfortunately falls one day short of hosting a true heatwave. No other months outside of May-September have ever hosted an eligible period, to my best knowledge. April 1893 comes close I'm sure but doesn't quite make three days. April 2007 and April 2011, while exceptional, did not achieve 28.0C or higher once. I don't believe there is any April/May border period on record that is eligible. Hopefully this clears up any confusion If you have any questions then please do ask.

29 minutes ago, cheeky_monkey said:

Im surprised no one has mentioned July 1994...i wont but someone else can because the rules are dumb and will all know there is no touching 1976 & 1995 no matter how you spin it.

As mentioned, there are several ways to judge heatwaves and each one exceeds in one more than others. The rules are designed to mathematically work out which heatwave is the hottest in all categories overall, as best can be quantified. August 1995 in particular is a monster but is not rated as top in any single category aside from hottest August on record, which is not even what's being judged here. However, you are free to have your opinion

Please do not entertain this blatant trolling attempt and ruin the spirit of the game. Everyone will have their opinions regardless of the result, I'm sure. I'd rather this thread not devolve to us shouting the odds at each other about our personal opinions

Edited December 6, 2023 by CryoraptorA303
June 1995 and August 2020 :/ Seriously how did I forget August 2020

[A Face like Thunder]

1 hour ago, CryoraptorA303 said:

Unfortunately, there was no heatwave in May 1978. Any warm spell must achieve at least three consecutive days of 28.0C or higher to be eligible. There is such a spell from May 31st-June 4th if you'd like to nominate May/June 1978 instead?

Of course, I'll sort them chronologically from the next nomination

Many thanks, yes please, I'd like to nominate May / June 1978 instead. I suspect it will fall at the first hurdle but it certainly brings back memories. 

[CryoraptorA303]

May/June 1978 has entered the competition, nominated by A Face like Thunder!

Current entrants:

August/September 1906 (alexisj9) 2

August 1911 (Harry's House) 0

July 1921 (Weather-history) 1

May 1922 (Capser) 0

July 1923 (Weather-history) 1

August 1930 (Metwatch) 0

August 1932 (Metwatch) 0

May 1944 (Capser) 0

May/June 1947 (hillbilly) 0

August 1947 (MP-R) 2

August 1955 (Freeze) 0

June 1957 (Harry's House) 0

July 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 0

August 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 0

September 1973 (Harry's House) 0

August 1975 (hillbilly) 0

June/July 1976 (Metwatch) 0

May/June 1978 (A Face like Thunder) 0

July 1983 (Freeze) 0

August 1990 (Capser) 0

June 1995 (Summer of 95) 0

August 1995 (AderynCoch) 2

August 1997 (hillbilly) 0

August 2003 (Summer8906) 2

July 2006 (Row w) 2

June 2010 (WYorksWeather) 0

September/October 2011 (Freeze) 0

July 2013 (DaveinSB) 2

July 2014 (SummerShower) 0

July 2016 (Summer of 95) 0

September 2016 (Catherine91) 2

June 2017 (WYorksWeather) 0

June/July 2018 (Sun Chaser) 2

July 2019 (R Alto) 2

August 2020 (LetItSnow!) 2

July 2021 (matty40s) 2

June 2022 (WYorksWeather) 0

July 2022 (Summer of 95) 0

August 2022 (SummerShower) 0

June 2023 (SummerShower) 0

September 2023 (rwtwm) 2

Italics denote the number of nominations each nominator has left

41 entrants now! We're getting there However there are still at least ten more I can think of off the top of my head.

I'm going to keep nominations open until midnight UTC+0 on Friday 8th. Be sure to use your remaining nominations if you have any, and if you haven't nominated a heatwave yet, be sure to nominate up to three of your choice!

 

[Metwatch]

Although October 1921 isn't a true heatwave by the current criteria, I would say it's the most impressive 'warm spell' outside of summer for duration, and even compared to a lot of the summer heatwaves themselves in terms of anomalies from the average. Only comparable ones I would say is September 1911 and now very recently September 2023.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Metwatch

[Weather-history]

1 minute ago, Metwatch said:

Although October 1921 isn't a true heatwave by the current criteria, I would say it's the most impressive 'warm spell' outside of summer for duration, and even compared to a lot of the summer heatwaves themselves in terms of anomalies from the average. Only comparable ones I would say is September 1911 and now very recently September 2023.

Last week of September 1895 and September 1898 are pretty impressive

[Metwatch]

Just now, Weather-history said:

Last week of September 1895 and September 1898 are pretty impressive

Yes 1895 that was the one I was trying to remember the 4th impressive one of autumn heatwaves!

[CryoraptorA303]

8 minutes ago, Metwatch said:

Although October 1921 isn't a true heatwave by the current criteria, I would say it's the most impressive 'warm spell' outside of summer for duration, and even compared to a lot of the summer heatwaves themselves in terms of anomalies from the average. Only comparable ones I would say is September 1911 and now very recently September 2023.

 

5 minutes ago, Weather-history said:

Last week of September 1895 and September 1898 are pretty impressive

 

4 minutes ago, Metwatch said:

Yes 1895 that was the one I was trying to remember the 4th impressive one of autumn heatwaves!

I have to agree, all of these examples are impressive even by today's standards. Back then this would've been groundbreaking. It's a shame we didn't have today's standards of measurements back then as we'll never truly know how these compare to today's heatwaves. I'm sure we can all agree the 1906 35.6Cs are questionable at best but 1895-1911 is still a very impressive cluster of Septembers. I trust Raunds' 1911 34.6C and somewhere like Coningsby today could've maybe even seen 35C. I wonder if anyone has run these heatwaves with modern computers to see what kind of temperatures may have been probable? Would also be interesting to see what the same heatwaves achieve with modern conditions. This is why I also say 36/37C may be possible in a particularly horrendous September heatwave today, considering that 36.7C in August 1911 was more or less the highest temperature the British Isles saw in the worst heatwave possible on the scale of hundreds of years (July 1868 could've just about reached 37C on the north Kent coast but we'll never know), and a really bad September heatwave still managed 34/35C.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand, September 1895, 1898 and 1911 are all eligible for nomination from the data I have, should anyone want to nominate them

[CryoraptorA303]

Reminder that today is the last day that nominations will be accepted Be sure to use your remaining nominations if you have any, and if you haven't nominated a heatwave yet, it's not too late! Nominate up to three heatwaves of your choice!

 

Current entrants:

August/September 1906 (alexisj9) 2

August 1911 (Harry's House) 0

July 1921 (Weather-history) 1

May 1922 (Capser) 0

July 1923 (Weather-history) 1

August 1930 (Metwatch) 0

August 1932 (Metwatch) 0

May 1944 (Capser) 0

May/June 1947 (hillbilly) 0

August 1947 (MP-R) 2

August 1955 (Freeze) 0

June 1957 (Harry's House) 0

July 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 0

August 1959 (A Face Like Thunder) 0

September 1973 (Harry's House) 0

August 1975 (hillbilly) 0

June/July 1976 (Metwatch) 0

May/June 1978 (A Face like Thunder) 0

July 1983 (Freeze) 0

August 1990 (Capser) 0

June 1995 (Summer of 95) 0

August 1995 (AderynCoch) 2

August 1997 (hillbilly) 0

August 2003 (Summer8906) 2

July 2006 (Row w) 2

June 2010 (WYorksWeather) 0

September/October 2011 (Freeze) 0

July 2013 (DaveinSB) 2

July 2014 (SummerShower) 0

July 2016 (Summer of 95) 0

September 2016 (Catherine91) 2

June 2017 (WYorksWeather) 0

June/July 2018 (Sun Chaser) 2

July 2019 (R Alto) 2

August 2020 (LetItSnow!) 2

July 2021 (matty40s) 2

June 2022 (WYorksWeather) 0

July 2022 (Summer of 95) 0

August 2022 (SummerShower) 0

June 2023 (SummerShower) 0

September 2023 (rwtwm) 2

Italics denote the number of nominations each nominator has left

[CryoraptorA303]

And nominations have now closed!

A bracket will now be randomised to decide each match of the first round.

As we have 41 entrants, we will likely not have a clean bracket and so we will have a "Round 0". In this pre-round I will make sure no high-tier heatwaves are involved as we don't want the giants knocking out mid-tiers before the first round, and we also don't want a huge match in round 0. Consider this the playoffs for lower-tier nominees.

What do you think the first match will be?

Edited December 9, 2023 by CryoraptorA303

[CryoraptorA303]

Welcome to the Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship!

Welcome to the Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship! In this tournament, Britain's hottest heatwaves will go head to head until only one remains!

How the game works

As we have 41 entrants, we will have 19 randomised 1-on-1 matches to begin with, with a three-way battle to account for the odd number. The winners of the 19 1v1s will continue to the next round, while the losers will be eliminated from the tournament. August 2022, June 2023 and September 2023, being the three most recent heatwaves, will hold a three-way match. The winner of the match will advance to the next round, while the two losers will be eliminated, to make 20 contestants for the second round. Once we reach the semifinals, with five contestants remaining, we will have one 1-on-1 match and one three-way match. The three lower scorers from the last round will have the three-way match, while the two highest scorers will have a 1-on-1 match. The winners of both matches will then advance to the final.

Each heatwave will be judged on ten criteria:

- Total days of heatwave

- Total consecutive 30C days

- Days above 34C

- Days above 36C

- Hottest day

- Warmest night

- Average maximum temperature

- Average minimum temperature

- All-time record break?

Each heatwave will be awarded a point for each criterion it suppasses the opposing heatwave by. If a criterion is a tie, both heatwaves will be awarded a point. If neither heatwave satisfies a criterion, then both sides will not be awarded a point. Overall, up to 10 points per match may be awarded. If both heatwaves broke the then-all-time record, the heatwave that broke the record by a higher margin will be awarded the point.

The winning heatwave will move to the next round of the championship, while the losing heatwave will be eliminated. If the final score is a tie, then a Sudden Death round will be held, and each Met Office region will present its max temperature for both heatwaves. Whichever heatwave achieved a higher maximum in the most regions will be given an extra eleventh point and advance to the next round.

Rules of the game

Of course, for any game to be fun, rules are needed.

To qualify as a heatwave, any nominated hot spell must have achieved a temperature of 28.0C or higher for at least 3 days and must not drop below at any point. There is no lower limit for daily minima.

An exception to the above rule may be considered if temperatures only dropped slightly below 28.0C for a day or two, but the non-heatwave day(s) will be held against it in the averages. Generally, a day or two of >27C will be allowed. >26C may be allowed in exceptional circumstances. <26C is very unlikely to be granted.

The stations Camden Square, Barbourne and London Weather Centre are banned from this tournament and temperatures from these stations will not be considered. As the host I reserve the right to disqualify any temperatures I believe to not stand up to scrutiny. If you don't see a temperature you recognise from a heatwave, this is probably why.

My unidentified referee has the right to make whatever decision he so wishes, and once an issue is referred to him, his decision is final.

Closing notes

With that out of the way, the matchups of the first round will be decided in the next couple of hours. The Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship starts... NOW!

 

[CryoraptorA303]

Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship - ROUND 1

Welcome to the first round of the Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship! It has been decided that the matchups of round 1 will not be random, but instead chronological. Sounds boring, right? Well, there's a twist! The first 19 heatwaves have been placed in the "home" bracket, while the last 19 heatwaves have been placed in the "away" bracket, leading to a very even first round with few major matchups!

In round 1, three games will be played each day, three hours apart from Sunday to Thursday, with Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays off. This means we should work through 20 games in a reasonably timely manner.

With that in mind, here are the fixtures for round 1 (all times in UTC+0):

August/September 1906 vs August 1990 - Dec 10th 1pm

August 1911 vs June 1995 - Dec 10th 4pm

July 1921 vs August 1995 - Dec 10th 7pm

May 1922 vs August 1997 - Dec 11th 1pm

July 1923 vs August 2003 - Dec 11th 4pm

August 1930 vs July 2006 - Dec 11th 7pm

August 1932 vs June 2010 - Dec 12th 1pm

May 1944 vs September/October 2011 - Dec 12th 4pm

May/June 1947 vs July 2013 - Dec 12th 7pm

August 1947 vs July 2014 - Dec 13th 1pm

August 1955 vs July 2016 - Dec 13th 4pm

June 1957 vs September 2016 - Dec 13th 7pm

July 1959 vs June 2017 - Dec 14th 1pm

August 1959 vs June/July 2018 - Dec 14th 4pm

September 1973 vs July 2019 - Dec 14th 7pm

August 1975 vs August 2020 - Dec 17th 1pm

June/July 1976 vs July 2021 - Dec 17th 4pm

May/June 1978 vs June 2022 - Dec 17th 7pm

July 1983 vs July 2022 - Dec 18th 1pm

August 2022 vs June 2023 vs September 2023 Battle Royale - Dec 18th 6pm Special

 

It appears that August/September 1906 vs August 1990 is our first match! What an opening to this tournament I will see you all tomorrow for the opening three games!

 

[LetItSnow!]

2 hours ago, CryoraptorA303 said:

Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship - ROUND 1

Welcome to the first round of the Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship! It has been decided that the matchups of round 1 will not be random, but instead chronological. Sounds boring, right? Well, there's a twist! The first 19 heatwaves have been placed in the "home" bracket, while the last 19 heatwaves have been placed in the "away" bracket, leading to a very even first round with few major matchups!

In round 1, three games will be played each day, three hours apart from Sunday to Thursday, with Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays off. This means we should work through 20 games in a reasonably timely manner.

With that in mind, here are the fixtures for round 1 (all times in UTC+0):

August/September 1906 vs August 1990 - Dec 10th 1pm

August 1911 vs June 1995 - Dec 10th 4pm

July 1921 vs August 1995 - Dec 10th 7pm

May 1922 vs August 1997 - Dec 11th 1pm

July 1923 vs August 2003 - Dec 11th 4pm

August 1930 vs July 2006 - Dec 11th 7pm

August 1932 vs June 2010 - Dec 12th 1pm

May 1944 vs September/October 2011 - Dec 12th 4pm

May/June 1947 vs July 2013 - Dec 12th 7pm

August 1947 vs July 2014 - Dec 13th 1pm

August 1955 vs July 2016 - Dec 13th 4pm

June 1957 vs September 2016 - Dec 13th 7pm

July 1959 vs June 2017 - Dec 14th 1pm

August 1959 vs June/July 2018 - Dec 14th 4pm

September 1973 vs July 2019 - Dec 14th 7pm

August 1975 vs August 2020 - Dec 17th 1pm

June/July 1976 vs July 2021 - Dec 17th 4pm

May/June 1978 vs June 2022 - Dec 17th 7pm

July 1983 vs July 2022 - Dec 18th 1pm

August 2022 vs June 2023 vs September 2023 Battle Royale - Dec 18th 6pm Special

 

It appears that August/September 1906 vs August 1990 is our first match! What an opening to this tournament I will see you all tomorrow for the opening three games!

 

Some of these battles have ended up very strange with this methodology because comparing August 1947 and July 2014 is going to be a no-brainer. Same with July 1923 and August 2003. 

[Weather-history]

6 hours ago, LetItSnow! said:

Some of these battles have ended up very strange with this methodology because comparing August 1947 and July 2014 is going to be a no-brainer. Same with July 1923 and August 2003. 

 Comparing August 1930 with July 2006.....I am finding it hard to just look at the heatwave part as opposed to the whole month. Truth be told, August 1930 was pretty much rank and was only saved by the heatwave right at the end and it is been put up against a truly great summer month.  

Edited December 10, 2023 by Weather-history

[LetItSnow!]

25 minutes ago, Weather-history said:

 Comparing August 1930 with July 2006.....I am finding it hard to just look at the heatwave part as opposed to the whole month. Truth be told, August 1930 was pretty much rank and was only saved by the heatwave right at the end and it is been put up against a truly great summer month.  

Same with 1976 compared with July 2021. I know it’s not a regional affair but July 2021 had a handful of very warm/hot days here and most of the month was changeable and cloudy with rather average temperatures. Same with comparing September 1973 to July 2019…

I respect the idea of the thread and the time gone into it but I’m not sure about the methodology… Unless the less notable months are just there to skip to the classic ones sooner. Better there be less entries and more of a comparison based on the similarity of the heatwave in terms of longevity, humidity, wind direction etc. 

[CryoraptorA303]

Today is the first day of the Hottest Heatwave of All Time Championship!

Today's matches are August/September 1906 vs August 1990 at 1pm, August 1911 vs June 1995 at 4pm and July 1921 vs August 1995 at 7pm!

Place your bets on who you'll think will win each match

 

10 hours ago, LetItSnow! said:

Some of these battles have ended up very strange with this methodology because comparing August 1947 and July 2014 is going to be a no-brainer. Same with July 1923 and August 2003. 

 

3 hours ago, Weather-history said:

 Comparing August 1930 with July 2006.....I am finding it hard to just look at the heatwave part as opposed to the whole month. Truth be told, August 1930 was pretty much rank and was only saved by the heatwave right at the end and it is been put up against a truly great summer month.  

 

3 hours ago, LetItSnow! said:

Same with 1976 compared with July 2021. I know it’s not a regional affair but July 2021 had a handful of very warm/hot days here and most of the month was changeable and cloudy with rather average temperatures. Same with comparing September 1973 to July 2019…

I respect the idea of the thread and the time gone into it but I’m not sure about the methodology… Unless the less notable months are just there to skip to the classic ones sooner. Better there be less entries and more of a comparison based on the similarity of the heatwave in terms of longevity, humidity, wind direction etc. 

 Well, it'd be a bit boring if half of the giants were knocked out in the first round, wouldn't it?

[A Face like Thunder]

3 hours ago, LetItSnow! said:

Same with 1976 compared with July 2021. I know it’s not a regional affair but July 2021 had a handful of very warm/hot days here and most of the month was changeable and cloudy with rather average temperatures. Same with comparing September 1973 to July 2019…

I respect the idea of the thread and the time gone into it but I’m not sure about the methodology… Unless the less notable months are just there to skip to the classic ones sooner. Better there be less entries and more of a comparison based on the similarity of the heatwave in terms of longevity, humidity, wind direction etc. 

Same as the dance-off on Strictly where you quite often have a stronger couple competing to ensure the weakest couple go out, and I have no problem with that. I am out next Sunday afternoon and evening and I shall look forward to hearing the results of my nominations on the BBC News later that evening