Enjoying heat with a sea swim before the storm comes

NOT so many years ago a few days of hot weather, such as we are currently experiencing, would have been seen as a bit of treat. Today it warrants a health alert from the Met Office in the form of an amber extreme heat warning.

It would, of course, be churlish to dismiss warnings that might better help people and their pets cope with a prolonged hot spell. And, as we have seen in Canada and the United States, what starts as a few nice sunny days can turn into a crisis if the temperature keeps on rising.

But while the vulnerable need to heed the warnings the majority, especially those with a chance to get outside and really enjoy the good weather, should be ready to relish the sunshine, rather than fear it.

I had my first sea swim of the year at the weekend. Encouraged in by the beautiful sunny day it is plain that large bodies of water take a good long while to warm up in the heat of the sun.

It was freezing. So cold, in fact, that without a wetsuit it was essentially a case of wading out to a point where it was deep enough to get my shoulders under – then swim back to the beach!

The main issues for the British in times of hot weather is changing lifestyles to suit the conditions – which is hardly practical if the heatwave lasts for just a few days before breaking with a spectacular thunderstorm. I fear one of those is on the way.

In the meantime, however, we’re trying to eke every bit of pleasure from day after day of clear blue skies and blazing sunshine. Eating outside, under the garden umbrella, barbecuing when time allows and timing dog walks to morning and evening to catch a bit of cool before the day warms up.

It feels almost continental.

I doubt it will last.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images A spectacular thunderstorm is surely on its way after this heatwave