The start of meteorological Summer 2025 (1st June)

[GloriaSmud]

This weekend sees the start of meteorological summer.
Netweather haven't got their summer forecast yet but have some thoughts here on what sort of summer we might expect.

TheWeatherOutlook published their summer forecast a few weeks ago.

(I think that although we've had a dry spring, it'll be a 'mixed' summer of dry/warm (maybe hot days), mixed in with wet days. So we'll see......)

Wow Monday here max 20c. The south east really does cop it.

I read last week that the reservoir near Abingdon looks likely to go ahead now. It's been mooted for so many years but blocked. It won't be handled by planning authority this time

"Abingdon: Rachel Reeves backs plans for massive reservoir | Oxford Mail" https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24893642.abingdon-rachel-reeves-backs-plans-massive-reservoir/

There are disagreements in the offing

"Abingdon reservoir judicial review hearing at High Court | Oxford Mail" https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25248312.abingdon-reservoir-judicial-review-hearing-high-court/

And another one in the fens

"Government steps in to deliver new Fen Reservoir amid water supply concerns" https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/government-steps-in-to-deliver-new-fen-reservoir-amid-water-9419285/

@justasking111 for some reason I thought you were in Wales.

I haven't been anywhere and next week I could go somewhere cooler but as is so often the case, worried about mum - and her neighbours are away at the moment as well.

Genuinely tempted to find a local hotel with air-conditioning if such a thing exists. I'm really hoping this projected 34 or 35 doesn't actually show up.

I've been sitting out in the garden and it's really nice outside. I just don't understand why that air never makes it inside the flat! Needed a cardigan when I came in from outside.

I am in Wales, hence the 20c on Monday, rather than the 34c in Essex. It's rained here every day since Saturday. Raining again now. Sunshine and showers every day. Everything is very green and lush again.

@justasking111 I do love Wales - look forward to going again.

AHH thank you.

It's looking like temperatures on Monday for the SE could be in the 33-35C range and the Midlands might just nudge a 30/31C but (if it helps!), it's only for a day or so before they fall back to the mid 20s after that (although the SE could still see 26/27C, so that might still be a bit much for some.)
Places to be on Monday for those that don't like the heat ~ the North, Scotland and Wales.
(We're also a fan of Wales ~ Llanberis and Anglesey some of my favourite areas.)

Some thoughts from Netweather on the next few days.
(Chance of thunderstorms in the SE tonight so they've issued a Thunderstorm Watch.)

At least it’s just for one day I guess in terms of the awful heat.

Back from France and I can confirm 38 degrees in a city centre is awful! I couldn’t even go shopping. You just sit in the shade and melt…

Ah you're back home, Delatron, to slightly cooler weather!

The 34/35C that was in the overnight GFS run is now showing 30/31C.
(I'm wondering though whether the models are slightly overdoing temperatures at the moment as the temperature and pressure charts don't really match. Maybe the forecasted temperatures might come down a bit more over the next few days.)

Yes @GloriaSmud it’s all a bit more pleasant!

Hopefully the temps next week will top out at around 30! 34/35 is very unpleasant in this country.

What a warm summer we’re having so far though. And after that dry and warm spring… be interesting to see how July and August pan out…

Are those storms in France going to trouble us tonight on the sea coast do we think? Or will it sail up the channel?

@Delatron did you have a good holiday?

@GloriaSmud yeah I hope it improves but I don't think it will. I'm sorry to bore on about this but the hot flat thing is such a struggle today. I wasn't sure if it was hot until I went outside but it does seem quite hot and airless actually - I'm surprised there isn't a sad thread. Maybe it's just a tiny pocket of Essex. Even mum's house is weirdly hot. Considering it's freezing in winter, I don't really know how that happens.

All I can see in the forecast is very hot, and then going down to about 27. So absolutely no hope of getting the heat out of this building.

I was looking at alternatives to the portable Aircon unit I have. It's not helping much in here. I can't explain this without boring you silly, but due to the layout in the windows, it doesn't work the way it did in my old flat.

But it seems portable Aircon is much of a muchness.

Ah @EmeraldRoulette thanks for asking - it was a very short city break/ Uni reunion but we packed lots in! And I am now so used to 36 degree heat that 27 here today felt ok.

So frustrating when buildings hold on to the heat though and don’t cool down over night. We had an air con unit 2 years ago which was lovely but I broke it and DH won’t let me get another 😭.
Hope you can get some air in!

Pascha ~ I think the south/SE will see something in the next few hours.

EmeraldRoulette ~ there are so many factors when it comes to do with buildings and how they react to our weather. The problem with this country is that we get all types of weather really. We can have really cold winters so we insulate our houses but then we get warm/hot summers, when our houses become like your flat ~ almost too warm to be comfortable to live in as they don't let the heat escape.

Just been looking at lightningmaps, it's possible any thunderstorms might stay out in the channel or over France. The Netweather radar at the moment is showing that there's some heavy rain heading for the south coast at the moment, so thundery downpours are looking likely to be on the way for them.

Storms over France look amazing! I've been out in the garden again but there's no air now.

@Delatron glad you had a good time

@GloriaSmud yeah I appreciate it's difficult but I'm always puzzled when new builds don't have any kind of air cooling system. It doesn't even have to be air con - - but new builds have the opportunity to put in any cooling system and it puzzles me that they don't. American colleagues have said the same thing.

People who say we don't have the weather for it haven't usually lived in flats, I find. They're amazed by the temperatures we get. But they're also amazed by my heating bill - or lack thereof!

Wow cracking thunderstorms. Might go look for some live webcams. Humid and still tonight, forecast rain showers which might help.

Re cooling in modern builds

i would guess sone do as they now have air source heat pumps but basically it’s cost // regulation- it would add to the cost and if there are no rules then it won’t happen across the board

absolute madness but

There doesn’t look to be much rain in the horizon (SE) looking at the forecast right up until next weekend..

We had a lot of rain last night (NEE) actual puddles on the road. My garden will be v grateful.

We had a little bit today but that looks to be it. Pleased other areas have a bit more. The grass is looking very yellow down here..

Looks a scorcher at the weekend above comfort levels in the south and east of the UK. Keep an eye on any vulnerable family you have. Draw the curtains, stay cool and hydrate.

Friend is heading to North west Wales which is cooler paid £115 for three nights on a caravan park on the coast for one adult two children. Bargain or what.

That sounds like such a good plan! SE looks hellish Sun/Mon. I don’t like a Monday heatwave as I have to work and I don’t go out in the evening to enjoy it later on.