Enjoy the cool for now – Heatwave 2 is on its way
The 1976 heatwave – much remembered in the past weeks – is written in tears into my family history. My big sister got married that summer on the day the rains finally came after 18 consecutive days of 86F (30C) temperatures – and the downpour had a dampening effect on proceedings.
By contrast, the current heatwave is a mere novice, having only so far managed a run of nine. And this weekend will put a stop to that sequence almost everywhere.
Yesterday’s cloud, breeze and bands of rain that cooled down and refreshed many parts of the country will spread today into south-east England and East Anglia, thus far the two areas that have held on to the heatwave.
The high pressure systems that have been sucking up hot, humid air from southern Europe and North Africa are being elbowed aside by low pressure from the Atlantic, bringing wetter, cooler and more unstable conditions.
This morning, another pulse of rain and wind will blow in across southwesterly parts, spreading northwards. In the hitherto overheated south, south-east and East Anglia, there will be some heavy downpours, maybe even thunder, and the wind will really get up after the stillness of recent days. Expect temperatures of just 70F (21C) in London, 68F (20C) in Plymouth, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh and a last-gasp 75F (24C) in Norwich.
And those changes continue into tomorrow as our weather charts its own course – warm, sunny but not scorching, plus the bonus (for gardeners and farmers) of rain.
But those high pressure systems from the hot south aren’t giving up yet – Heatwave 2 may be upon us by next weekend.