The 2020 summer optimism and BBQ thread!

[StoatInACoat]

God I hope so. My house has been averaging 26/27 degrees inside for three days and a workshop with four sweaty blokes in it and a tin roof is also less than pleasant!

In a couple of hours we'll be at purple alert if the storm arrives while I'm still at work and everything floods again though.

[JakeT]

jimmyjimjim said:

Loitering around 36c here in Colorado. Next Monday is due to be 32c, but that's the lowest forecast for a while.

Of course it's only 21c here in the basement, with the AC vents blocked (it gets too cold otherwise).

The main differences to the UK are whole house AC, and a much greater time to get used to it - we've had months of it being 32c or higher, with another month to go - more time to acclimatize. The nest thermostat has been slowly increasing the temperature in the house (reducing the time the AC is on), for ecomony, and it's currently set to a temperature that would have been lethal in May (25c).

The lower humidity makes it less unpleasant, too.

I hated summer when I was in the UK.

Houses are different, and as you say, central air. I always found houses in the US have better airflow and more overhangs and the like to keep things shaded. Here it's solid brick walls with an emphasis on retaining heat in the winter. I love the heat, and would be fine with these temps if I even had a room in the house that was air conditioned just to escape the heat every so often.

Still, nothing can quite prepare one for Death Valley in the dead of summer. Proper 'breathtaking' heat. Even the mega A/C in the rented Cadillac DeVille we had in the early 2000s was struggling then.

[Scabutz]

Someone on local FB group just posted a picture of an anvil cloud over my way. On a call and cant see it from my window but hopefull that might mean some fireworks on the way.

ETA - arse. Comments say it was yesterday

[Puggit]

Scabutz said:

Someone on local FB group just posted a picture of an anvil cloud over my way. On a call and cant see it from my window but hopefull that might mean some fireworks on the way.

ETA - arse. Comments say it was yesterday

Storms are forming from Guildford, through West London to Stansted. Moving WNW.

[number2]

Puggit said:

Scabutz said:

Someone on local FB group just posted a picture of an anvil cloud over my way. On a call and cant see it from my window but hopefull that might mean some fireworks on the way.

ETA - arse. Comments say it was yesterday

Storms are forming from Guildford, through West London to Stansted. Moving WNW.

No respite for me yet...

[seiben]

This lot has appeared over the horizon fairly quickly (coupled with the beginnings of a light cool breeze).



Not sure on how I would judge distance, but Henley is over that way, with Maidenhead/High Wycombe a bit further over.

[Sway]

Clear skies for me at Chichester...

Super bright, and super hot.

Don't worry chaps, I'll just sit here helping brew them for you northerners.

[A.J.M]

neelyp said:

Pretty intense storm last night (Falkirk, central Scotland), lots of roads blocked this morning, couple of hotel car parks flooded up to the roofs of the cars, worst of all my mates house was hit by lightning and burned down. Thankfully all occupants ok.

20 miles down the road near Airdrie.

Storm raged during the night.
From 10pm onwards the clouds were lighting up blue with lighting but there was no thunder.

It really hit about 12-1am, best storm I’ve seen.
Proper loud thunder, plenty of lightning and the rain was the heaviest I’ve seen in years.

All in all, a damn good effort!

[Puggit]

Looks like Reading area in for a hit - I'm digging out the diazepam for the dog!

[limpsfield]

Storm has just started in Haslemere Surrey, south of Guildford. And chunky bits of hail too - very welcome.

[wiliferus]

Big rain (not heavy but big drops) and thunder in Thame, S Oxfordshire

Needs it as my cheap Amazon weather station reckons it’s 36.9c outside.

[The Hypno-Toad]

limpsfield said:

Storm has just started in Haslemere Surrey, south of Guildford. And chunky bits of hail too - very welcome.

First big clap of thunder too just up the hill from there. Missed out on the hail, it went straight to rain.

[illmonkey]

wiliferus said:

Big rain (not heavy but big drops) and thunder in Thame, S Oxfordshire

Needs it as my cheap Amazon weather station reckons it’s 36.9c outside.

Not far north of you, fingers crossed!

Outside is 35, most of my rooms are reporting 30C/31C. I gave up on keeping everything closed, it was still warming up but with no breeze.

[wiliferus]

Radar looks like a there’s a decent storm building west of London, heading west

[colin_p]

Still in brilliant sunshine at 38c but huge towers looming very close here (Maidenhead) and very powerful booming thunder. The radar put the tower to the East of Slough but it looks like it is on us now.

The next half hour or so is hopefully going to be quite special.

[Puggit]

wiliferus said:

Big rain (not heavy but big drops) and thunder in Thame, S Oxfordshire

Needs it as my cheap Amazon weather station reckons it’s 36.9c outside.

This is you. Not as beautiful as last night!

[seiben]

colin_p said:

Still in brilliant sunshine at 38c but huge towers looming very close here (Maidenhead) and very powerful booming thunder. The radar put the tower to the East of Slough but it looks like it is on us now.

The next half hour or so is hopefully going to be quite special.

I'm pretty sure that's what I can see! No audible thunder yet....

[Puggit]

Oh FFS - there's a gap forming, and guess what...

[Mafffew]

In Colnbrook, just got absolutely pelted by rain and wind, I don't recall seeing anything like it. It has eased off for now, but there is plenty of debris around.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Thunder and rain rolled in really quickly over Oxford - nice