|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since 1976 in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine. I moved in to my
current house that year and there are the same concerns around now as there
were then regarding subsidence due to the London Clay cracking. I believe
that year the good weather started a bit earlier in May and broke down at
the beginning of September as I was about to go on holiday. It is still fine
here today.
I used "best" in inverted commas as my memories as a 26 year old with a baby
daughter on the way are slightly better than the old codger I have become
worrying about my now mature garden drying up!

Dave

Dave.
I would agree with you 100%. I was 23 at that time and remember it well.
Went on holiday to Ibiza on July 3rd that year, 96 Deg at Gatwick as we
left, and arrived in Ibiza to only 80 Deg. From what I can remember it was a
fairly unsettled and windy fortnight out there. But still didn't look
forward to coming home.

Len.
"Dave.C" wrote in message
...
|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since 1976
in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine. I moved in to my
current house that year and there are the same concerns around now as
there
were then regarding subsidence due to the London Clay cracking. I believe
that year the good weather started a bit earlier in May and broke down at
the beginning of September as I was about to go on holiday. It is still
fine
here today.
I used "best" in inverted commas as my memories as a 26 year old with a
baby
daughter on the way are slightly better than the old codger I have become
worrying about my now mature garden drying up!

Dave

"Dave.C" wrote in message
...
|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since
1976 in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine. I moved in to my
current house that year and there are the same concerns around now as
there
were then regarding subsidence due to the London Clay cracking. I
believe
that year the good weather started a bit earlier in May and broke down
at
the beginning of September as I was about to go on holiday. It is
still fine
here today.
I used "best" in inverted commas as my memories as a 26 year old with
a baby
daughter on the way are slightly better than the old codger I have
become
worrying about my now mature garden drying up!

.... I have an index-based series based on Kew Observatory, then Heathrow
data, combining average maximum temperature & sunshine (two variables
that seem from experience to define how people 'judge' a summer): this
runs from 1900, and I've tried to adjust for various site changes,
instrument changes etc., but I would be the first to admit that the
'adjustments' are rather crude and hence I wouldn't want to trumpet the
results too strongly. However, it does seem to pick out the 'best'
summers in this part of the world as far as public perception is
concerned as follows:

In the series (1900 - 2005), the ranking is as follows (top-5 only)

1. 1976 33.6
2. 1989 32.0
= 1995 32.0
4. 1911 31.7
= 2003 31.7

Given the June and July of this year (warm/sunny June, exceptionally
warm/very sunny July), then even if we get an *average* August (highly
likely), we will end up with a value of 32.5, i.e. new 'second' highest
in the list.

If we only get a few tenths extra on the mean maxima (as is happening
currently / 10th Aug), and a slightly above-average sunshine total
(reasonable prospect for both), then we will equal or exceed the
all-time 'best' summer of 1976.

Martin.

Dave.C wrote:
|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since 1976 in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine. I moved in to my
current house that year and there are the same concerns around now as there
were then regarding subsidence due to the London Clay cracking. I believe
that year the good weather started a bit earlier in May and broke down at
the beginning of September as I was about to go on holiday. It is still fine
here today.
I used "best" in inverted commas as my memories as a 26 year old with a baby
daughter on the way are slightly better than the old codger I have become
worrying about my now mature garden drying up!

Dave

I spent 4 weeks of that summer on a course at the MO College, Shinfield
Park, and it was so hot there was no chance of sleep until about 2 a.m.
each night. I remember going to a friends flat at Point Royal in
Bracknell one evening, and the thermometer on his balcony read 28 C at
2300. It is interesting to see the archive film of the final Test match
at The Oval that summer. The outfield was almost completely brown.
(They dont show that match too often as we were thrashed by the West
Indies IIRC). It will be interesting to see how this years Oval
compares.

wrote in message
ups.com...

Dave.C wrote:
|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since 1976 in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine. I moved in to my
current house that year and there are the same concerns around now as there
were then regarding subsidence due to the London Clay cracking. I believe
that year the good weather started a bit earlier in May and broke down at
the beginning of September as I was about to go on holiday. It is still fine
here today.
I used "best" in inverted commas as my memories as a 26 year old with a baby
daughter on the way are slightly better than the old codger I have become
worrying about my now mature garden drying up!

Dave

I spent 4 weeks of that summer on a course at the MO College, Shinfield
Park, and it was so hot there was no chance of sleep until about 2 a.m.
each night. I remember going to a friends flat at Point Royal in
Bracknell one evening, and the thermometer on his balcony read 28 C at
2300. It is interesting to see the archive film of the final Test match
at The Oval that summer. The outfield was almost completely brown.
(They dont show that match too often as we were thrashed by the West
Indies IIRC). It will be interesting to see how this years Oval
compares.


LOL. Boy do I remember that summer. In the height of it, circa 1 week temps
32C, I slept outside on two nights with just a sheet for the dawn period. I felt
like a Biafran refugee, but it was the only way to stay cool at night, quite
nice though sleeping under the stars with no tent. In late August we went on a
walking holiday in NE England. The Lyke Wake walk across the North York moors
was shut due to fire. We also spent a few days on the coast path. At Whitby the
Youth Hostel was full so we decided to sleep on the beach with no tent, and
would you believe it, it rained and we got damp! The first bleedin rain for
weeks and it had to fall when we were sleeping outside. That autumn it rained
and rained and rained and ..... . The rest is history. Sheesh I'm getting old,
54 in old money but still only 12 in Celsius :-)

Will (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
--

It certainly has not been the best summer since 1976 where I live - far
from it. At the end of July it was ranked 7th best since 1946 on my
summer index (with 2003 having scored far higher). The 5 best summers
were 1976, 1995, 2003, 1947 and 1955.

However this August has got off to one of the worst starts for years
and it now looks unlikely to make the top 10. I never imagined that
such a good July wold be followed by such a bad August.

So far only 3 warmer than average days this month, strong winds on an
almost daily basis and barely 2/3 of the average sunshine making it
feel more like late October. Day temperatures have on several occasions
been akin to the night temperatures experienced during the last
fortnight of July.

The immediate outlook is dreadful with awful northerly/north westerly
winds continuing to give below average temperatures and little
sunshine. There may even turn out to be fewer days over 70F than during
last years uninspiring summer. So far 4 more such days are required to
beat last years total.

Richard Slessor,
Hazlehead, Aberdeen.

Dave.C wrote:
|From a personal point of view this has been the "best" summer since 1976 in
terms of it's dryness, heat and amounts of sunshine.

All this is purely subjective, but.... whilst I can't remember 1976,
what's turning into a relatively disappointing August compared to many
other good summers (e.g. 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990 and 1995) means that
this summer in the Southampton area probably won't be the "best"
(assuming dry/warm/sunny=good) unless the last two weeks of August
prove persistently warm and sunny.

Round here the month of August has been dry, but, about "average" for
sunshine so far, with a couple of sunny days but many cloudy days, and
next week looks worryingly reminiscent of the last week of July last
year. The last two days in Cheshire have been unseasonably and
unpleasantly cool and windy, if not wet. Unless we get a persistent
warm, sunny spell from next weekend (possible) this summer will have
been rather 'spoiled' by this rather persistent cyclonic-northerly
setup, rendering it comparable to 1994 perhaps, but worse than 1983,
1989 or 1995.

Nick

"Richard Slessor" wrote in message
ups.com...
It certainly has not been the best summer since 1976 where I live - far
from it. At the end of July it was ranked 7th best since 1946 on my
summer index (with 2003 having scored far higher). The 5 best summers
were 1976, 1995, 2003, 1947 and 1955.

However this August has got off to one of the worst starts for years
and it now looks unlikely to make the top 10. I never imagined that
such a good July wold be followed by such a bad August.

So far only 3 warmer than average days this month, strong winds on an
almost daily basis and barely 2/3 of the average sunshine making it
feel more like late October. Day temperatures have on several occasions
been akin to the night temperatures experienced during the last
fortnight of July.

The immediate outlook is dreadful with awful northerly/north westerly
winds continuing to give below average temperatures and little
sunshine. There may even turn out to be fewer days over 70F than during
last years uninspiring summer. So far 4 more such days are required to
beat last years total.

Richard Slessor,
Hazlehead, Aberdeen.


Well to be honest, I'm grateful for the near normal temperatures. It was
ridiculous at times last month with the night temperatures. Felt more like
the tropics. Almost impossible to get a decent nights sleep with the effect
that I just got more and more groggy during the week and ended up spending
most of the weekend in bed with no energy at all. Plus my bridge partner had
been feeling ill due to the heat.

At least now if it is a bit chilly you can put another layer on.

Adam

(from a now much cooler W Sussex)

Adam Lea wrote:


Well to be honest, I'm grateful for the near normal temperatures.


I think the point Richard may have been making is that the temperatures here are
*not* near normal ... 15°C is not normal for August, even here in the frozen north.

It was
ridiculous at times last month with the night temperatures. Felt more like
the tropics.

My warmest night in July was equal to the coldest day at 16°C.
It was a warm month however, even if one third of the month was 'spoiled' by
persistent fog, which reduced the temperature by 5 or more degrees.

Almost impossible to get a decent nights sleep with the effect
that I just got more and more groggy during the week and ended up spending
most of the weekend in bed with no energy at all. Plus my bridge partner had
been feeling ill due to the heat.

Oh. A/c broken ?

At least now if it is a bit chilly you can put another layer on.

And I have done so, indoors.


--
Gianna

"Gianna" wrote in message
...
Adam Lea wrote:


Well to be honest, I'm grateful for the near normal temperatures.


I think the point Richard may have been making is that the temperatures
here are *not* near normal ... 15°C is not normal for August, even here in
the frozen north.

I didn't realise it was that cold. It has been high teens/low 20's most of
the time down here. It was quite pleasent last week. Ideal weather for
cycling to work.


It was ridiculous at times last month with the night temperatures. Felt
more like the tropics.

My warmest night in July was equal to the coldest day at 16°C.
It was a warm month however, even if one third of the month was 'spoiled'
by persistent fog, which reduced the temperature by 5 or more degrees.

If you are from the north then add a good 5 degrees to what you experienced
in the heatwave to get what I experienced.


Almost impossible to get a decent nights sleep with the effect
that I just got more and more groggy during the week and ended up
spending most of the weekend in bed with no energy at all. Plus my bridge
partner had been feeling ill due to the heat.

Oh. A/c broken ?


I don't have air con at home. Can't afford it at the moment after just
replacing the windows. There is air con at the bridge club, unfortunatly
some of the women keep complaining about it so it is not as cool as it could
be.

Adam