Royal wisdom still holds water as the world warms up
In the 1730s, King George II made a somewhat banal observation that has somehow stood the test of time. Noting the typically changeable weather of a British summer, the Hanoverian King summed it up as “three fine days and a thunderstorm”.
Like all the best clichés, it works because it is true.
Today, after the scorching weather of the past 72 hours or so, many central and southern parts of the country will experience outbreaks of rain that are thundery in places. It will be cooler, too, especially in the north west.
Across the southern half of the UK, temperatures are forecast to drop by between 10C and 15C, coming much more in line with the average for June as a cold front moves south and east.
There is a science behind this. After a short heatwave like the one we have just experienced, a cold front typically undercuts the hot and humid air that has been building up.
If there is enough moisture in the upper atmosphere, storm clouds will then rise upwards to the base of the stratosphere, creating ideal conditions for significant downpours to ensue.
There is something comforting in the weather doing exactly what it was nearly 300 years ago, in a week where across Europe it has appeared somewhat apocalyptic.
A severe heatwave has held much of France and Spain in its grip, with the former experiencing its hottest May on record. In Spain, temperatures above 40C (104F) have been recorded in several cities. Southern parts of the US have also seen record-breaking heat.
We know that climate change is making such heatwaves more intense, prolonged, and likely across the world so such sweltering days are surely a sign of more to come.
But amid such unrelenting heat, it is a relief to know that a king’s mantra can still ring true – and the heavens open in blessed relief.