Early Summer weather watch

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Old thread:https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weather/4767111-spring-weather-watch?page=6&reply=126854914

After the dramatic weather for some over the last few days, mostly covered in the Thunderstorm warning threads, I think it's time to switch to a new thread. After all, we are two weeks into meteorological summer.

I'm going back to the winter duvets!! :(

I am sitting in my garden with my bed time cup if tea ...it feels normal at the moment!

It’s actually quite warm down here today. Definitely not fire or winter duvet weather.

Looking at the GFS at the moment, next week looks similar to what we've had all month - sunshine and showers (and Saturday looks especially grim - rain all/most of the day) but the first few days of August (and remember this is waaaaay ahead when it comes to forecasting), is looking a bit drier and warmer.
Oh please let it be so!

@GloriaSmud . In Wales August is usually a wet windy month so I hope you're right. We actually had a sunny afternoon and evening yesterday. Back to cloudy this morning

Same here (SE). I keep reading about how cold and rainy it is, but it's very pleasant here.

Apparently yesterday last year it was 40 degrees. I remember it well

Popping back in after my week away in Cornwall. Despite threats of heavy rain and thunderstorms it was similar to the weather we had been having at home, and still have. I'm starting to wonder if I have my own little weather front following me around as it's nothing like the forecasts 🤔

Cool, cloudy, enough drizzle to stop hanging washing or gardening, or cleaning windows but not enough to water the garden. The flowerbeds are so dry! Sleeping in bedsocks and thick duvet but walking around in just a t-shirt during the day. So weird.

Well I've been busy last two days beds stripped, linen on the line. Sofa throws, cushion covers washed and back in situ. It's like a mad panic to get everything washed and dry before the deluge returns

It's warmer in my bit of the SE than they say. There are people walking around in full summer gear. If you take a light jacket in the morning, by the afternoon you wish you hadn't.

thank goodness it's not last year though!

@justasking111 I know Wales can have very nice weather - I stayed at a caravan park just outside Caernarfon in July a few years ago and the weather was lovely but I was back at the same park last week and the weather, well it could have been better! So I hope August is an improvement but looking at the first week on the GFS and it's looking like more of the same - some dry days mixed with some awful ones.

We're warned of an absolute drenching this weekend a month of rain in two days. It's so cold here this afternoon

It's waaaay into the future when it comes to forecasting but there are early signs on the GFS, of summer returning, maybe from the middle of next week. The metoffice is sort of striking the same note in their long range forecast as well...

29th July-7th August
The conditions for the end of July are expected to remain unsettled, a theme which is likely to continue into early August as well. Widespread showers are probable across the UK throughout the period with northern areas likely to see the heaviest of these, some of which may also turn thundery. More persistent spells of rain may develop as well, especially in western elevated regions, replacing some of the showers. A risk of strong winds and some gales in coastal areas; inland, winds more likely to be light to moderate. Drier interludes with some sunny spells are possible during the period, with a greater likelihood in south-eastern regions as we move into August. Feeling generally cool for the time of year, though perhaps a touch warmer in sheltered areas.

8th August-22nd August
While the start of the period may see a continuation of the above unsettled themes, there are indications for more settled conditions developing towards the middle of August with longer periods of dry weather and sunshine compared with previous weeks. Unsettled spells are still possible, albeit with a slightly reduced likelihood than normal. Although temperatures may be below average early in the period, they are likely to rise to average or above average into the second half of the month as the conditions settle down.

I'm back

After that note of optimism shared by @GloriaSmud sadly the weather appears to prefer to remain unsettled. We stay on the cool side of the jet stream. I guess we don't need to worry about drought too much this year!

Carlisle reservoir 95%. , The rest looking healthy. Lake Vrnwy at 75%. Last year was 10% lower. But still below the average so we're still playing catch-up here

Hi Kitten how are you?

I'm finding the days are much nicer in the SE than the reports say

No drought would be fine if SW Water didn’t see every drop of rain as an excuse to pump untreated sewage into as many places as possible.

That is a very good point Rafa.

I'm good Emma. I think you're right. As long as you go out prepared for some rain, it doesn't feel bad and there's plenty of useable weather.

Midweek it could be pretty stormy in the southern half of England. I'm keeping an eye on it.

We're with Thames Water and they're doing the same, Rafa. Last summer the local river was a murky green colour and stank.

I'm glad of the rain, though, it means that unlike last year I'm not spending my days dragging hoses about and hauling watering cans, so can get on with other work.

Dismal and drizzly with odd sun patches in the East Midlands and has been since that "summer" we had earlier. It's been weird in the garden this year though. Just enough wet to stop the lawn mowers but the grass isn't really growing either and the flowerbeds are bone dry. Is the drizzle just getting evaporated? It's t-shirt weather in the day but the nights are still needing duvets.

What's worse is the no buzzing sound outside and I find that horrific.

Weird. The advantage of the rain here is that the garden hasn’t really needed watering. My grass is looking long and much greener than it did last month. We’ve had quite a lot of heavy rain days though so perhaps that’s helped the ground absorb water when it has drizzled.

I have loads of buzzing. Not so many butterflies but there are a few around.

At least I haven't had to top up the washer bottle in my car. The rain has kept the windscreen clean😔.
I haven't had to use my water butts since the end of June.

Nice to see you're back, OYBBK. Weather's not changed!

Latest long range forecast from the metoffice.... There's still hope for mid-end of August but "prolonged dry and hot spells being unlikely" suits me fine <shudders at the memory of 40C last summer>

4th-13th August
Sunshine and showers are likely for many at the start of this period, locally heavy and thundery, with northwesterly or northerly winds bringing cool temperatures for the time of year. Showers may temporarily ease slightly, however there is some risk that this could give way to further wet and windy weather arriving from the west over the weekend. Beyond this, changeable conditions are likely to dominate through the rest of this period. Showery conditions are likely, along with the risk of longer spells of rain and stronger winds at times too. Some drier and brighter interludes are also possible, these perhaps more likely later in this period. Often breezy, especially earlier in the period. Temperatures are likely to be mostly below average.

14th-28th August
During the second half of August, changeable weather is expected across the UK. Unsettled at times, with a mixture of rain and showers for many areas. Some shorter-lived periods of drier, more settled weather are also likely, particularly later in the month. These may bring some warmer days, however any prolonged dry and hot spells appear to be unlikely.

Son and family were booking a holiday for June we were going with them. Well it had to be postponed. They started looking at September same area same villas. The prices have increased by 2 to 3k for two adults and two children for a week. Has demand gone up do you think?

I don't suppose there's a simple/ish explanation for this cool weather ?
I'm SE London and particularly struck by v how breezy it has been. And how cold the nights.
Apologies if I've missed this.

Also, the met office reports keep being way out of line. The heavy rain solidly from 12 today arrived about 3.30 and didn't last that long.