Stormy Weather II

[Serial_Apologist]

The cloud cover until now, combined with a gentle cool breeze, has made for pleasant conditions, welcome for the Wednesday gardening duties. Occasional breaks allowing the sun through were a reminder just how hot it would otherwise be. The cloud is now breaking and the temp is rising but due to cool off during the night, which will be good. It was very warm last night and I didn't get much sleep so could do with not repeating that tonight.

My own N wall sited max-min thermometer failed to drop below 22C last night, equalling the national highest minimum, in St James's Park. This was 10 degs C higher than the average for this time of the year, and I would have thought must constitute some sort of a UK record, although I haven't seen or heard mention of such anywhere. I would think it's the highest night time temperature I have recorded in this country. The soaked face towel I stuck in my deep freeze last night is now a solid clump which will need defrosting before I can proceed with filtering air from an adjacent fan to find out of my friend's advice actually works! It could come in useful next Monday and Tuesday, both of which days are now predicted to be extremely hot. There is tentative talk suggesting a thundery breakdown on Tuesday night into Wednesday, following which temperatures are forecast to return to normal or a few degrees above. Apart from this no rain whatever appears to be on the horizon.

[oddoneout]

My own N wall sited max-min thermometer failed to drop below 22C last night, equalling the national highest minimum, in St James's Park. This was 10 degs C higher than the average for this time of the year, and I would have thought must constitute some sort of a UK record, although I haven't seen or heard mention of such anywhere. I would think it's the highest night time temperature I have recorded in this country. The soaked face towel I stuck in my deep freeze last night is now a solid clump which will need defrosting before I can proceed with filtering air from an adjacent fan to find out of my friend's advice actually works! It could come in useful next Monday and Tuesday, both of which days are now predicted to be extremely hot. There is tentative talk suggesting a thundery breakdown on Tuesday night into Wednesday, following which temperatures are forecast to return to normal or a few degrees above. Apart from this no rain whatever appears to be on the horizon.

The Met Office records for last night were 23 at 10pm finally getting below 20 at 2am which considering it's from a large mostly grass airfield in the middle of open countryside is a bit high - no urban heat accumulation there!

[BBMmk2]

Today, a bit cooler, at 25C.

[crb11]

My own N wall sited max-min thermometer failed to drop below 22C last night, equalling the national highest minimum, in St James's Park. This was 10 degs C higher than the average for this time of the year, and I would have thought must constitute some sort of a UK record, although I haven't seen or heard mention of such anywhere.

The all-time record for this is 23.9C (night of Aug 3, 1990 in Brighton) which followed what was then the hottest day on record, so last night wasn't far short. Monday night is likely to be up there as well - the forecast for Cambridge is currently suggesting 22, and I'd expect central London to be a degree or so higher.

[Joseph K]

Fresh and sunny, very nice here. Not looking forward, though, to monday & tuesday temps of 35!

[Serial_Apologist]

The all-time record for this is 23.9C (night of Aug 3, 1990 in Brighton) which followed what was then the hottest day on record, so last night wasn't far short. Monday night is likely to be up there as well - the forecast for Cambridge is currently suggesting 22, and I'd expect central London to be a degree or so higher.

Thanks for this information. It's surprising, when one thinks about it, that a coastal location such as Brighton of all places would have experienced the highest night time minimum temperature, rationally assuming the preceding daytime maximum would have been mitigated by sea breezes - unless the latter in turn were suppressed by a more powerful northerly, whose descent from the South Downs could have brought about a föhn effect.

Today's "back to normal" temperatures are such a relief - just 21C at noon here with a gentle cooling off breeze wafting through my open windows. I for one am dreading next Monday and Tuesday.

[oddoneout]

Feeling distinctly fresh here today. The cloud cover is acting as a very effective sunscreen and the NW airflow has picked up. The backdoor thermometer, which is out of the wind, is at 20 but I think I might need arms covered to do my planting up on the patio, which isn't sheltered from that direction, if the sun doesn't get through as expected . It looks as if Friday and Saturday are the times to get things done before starting to retreat from Sunday mid afternoon onwards hoping it does indeed start to go over by Wednesday.

[crb11]

Thanks for this information. It's surprising, when one thinks about it, that a coastal location such as Brighton of all places would have experienced the highest night time minimum temperature, rationally assuming the preceding daytime maximum would have been mitigated by sea breezes - unless the latter in turn were suppressed by a more powerful northerly, whose descent from the South Downs could have brought about a föhn effect.

Today's "back to normal" temperatures are such a relief - just 21C at noon here with a gentle cooling off breeze wafting through my open windows. I for one am dreading next Monday and Tuesday.

Yes, I looked into this a bit. Turns out that the site I was looking at was out of date - the actual record is the much higher 27.8C, from the night of 23 July 2019, but also in Brighton. However, this didn't correspond to particularly hot daytime temperatures: the all-time day record is only 33, and the July 2019 maximum was 29.9C. So there seems to be some unusual local factor - I'm wondering if it's something like an onshore breeze bringing cloud to insulate (and a thicker layer than elsewhere because it gets trapped by the South Downs) but not enough to cool.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, I looked into this a bit. Turns out that the site I was looking at was out of date - the actual record is the much higher 27.8C, from the night of 23 July 2019, but also in Brighton. However, this didn't correspond to particularly hot daytime temperatures: the all-time day record is only 33, and the July 2019 maximum was 29.9C. So there seems to be some unusual local factor - I'm wondering if it's something like an onshore breeze bringing cloud to insulate (and a thicker layer than elsewhere because it gets trapped by the South Downs) but not enough to cool.

Yes, all that could help account for it.

[Petrushka]

The all-time record for this is 23.9C (night of Aug 3, 1990 in Brighton) which followed what was then the hottest day on record, so last night wasn't far short. Monday night is likely to be up there as well - the forecast for Cambridge is currently suggesting 22, and I'd expect central London to be a degree or so higher.

I remember August 3 1990 very well. I was working in a second (and top) floor, non air-conditioned office in Derby in which the daytime temperature reached 100 degrees F, 37 degrees C.

I also recall mention on that day's news that the night of August 4 1975 was then the hottest night time temperature on record in the UK.

The hottest I've experienced in this country is 36 degrees on July 25 2019, though the temperature gauge was situated by Derby railway station so I'd take three degrees or so off that to account for heat from the trains. I do have a photograph to prove it!

[crb11]

I remember August 3 1990 very well. I was working in a second (and top) floor, non air-conditioned office in Derby in which the daytime temperature reached 100 degrees F, 37 degrees C.

I also recall mention on that day's news that the night of August 4 1975 was then the hottest night time temperature on record in the UK.

The hottest I've experienced in this country is 36 degrees on July 25 2019, though the temperature gauge was situated by Derby railway station so I'd take three degrees or so off that to account for heat from the trains. I do have a photograph to prove it!

On August 3 1990 I was travelling from London to Glasgow by train, and remember the blast of "cold" air when the doors opened for our first stop at Preston despite it still being at least upper 20s there at the time.

Not sure what the hottest I've experienced. I was in Cambridge when the record was set, but delayed my commute home to avoid the worst of it. I'm now working next to the Botanical Gardens so might have a very hot cycle home on Tuesday!

[oddoneout]

The local rag had an item abut "tropical nights" the other day but didn't explain how they arise other than saying breeze and cloud were necessary. Wiki says

Tropical nights are common during heat waves and occur mostly over seas, coasts and lakes. Heat gets stored in the water during periods of sunny and warm weather during the day, which is then emitted during the night and keeps the night temperature up.

- which doesn't explain why Sheffield, Sutton Bonnington and Ryhill were recordbreakers on Monday night?

[BBMmk2]

A nice 24C today. Just going to pick up mine and MrsBBM’s prescription up, on my motobility scooter.

[oddoneout]

Sunny at the moment but due to cloud over later which will help to slow the temperature rise. It was a lot cooler overnight so much more comfortable, and better sleep. The rise over the weekend is a bit slower than earlier forecasts had it, but the maximum for Monday and Tuesday has gone up significantly to 34 and 35 so swings and roundabouts.
I'm in two minds abut whether to plug the pipeholes on the second water tank I got from a house renovation and put against the shed to catch the rain off the corrugated roof. On the one hand it would mean collection of more water (as and when there is a wet break in the weather), but on the other sods law says that being prepared would nix any chance of rain... As the first tank I got has been duly plugged I think I'll leave the second, then I've left both outcomes open! In the meantime I'll finish filling the waterbutts at the bottom of the garden to fill the watering cans for the veg beds; although hosepipe bans are not on the cards at the moment it's best to be prepared - trekking full cans 200ft from the house isn't a realistic activity given my back problems. I spent quite a while yesterday soaking the ground around the 5 new fruit trees to get them through next week.

[DracoM]

RAIN!!! Yes...............at last ...and distinctly coolish compared to yesterday!