bringmesunshine

It was more of a 1975 than a 1976, more of a 1990 than a 1995, more of a 2003 than a 2018. So, very good but not quite outstanding

In both 1975 and 1976 there were what could be called 'breakdowns' in the middle of July. At almost exactly this date in 76 it turned thundery and relatively cool for about 10 days. Remember it well because it washed the ladybirds away. In 75 it was unsettled for about two weeks but in both years the heat returned for the final week of July and lasted for most of August. Not saying this will happen in 2018 but the similarities are fairly striking.

August 1976 was hot and sunny up till about the 27th (bank holiday weekend) when it turned very wet. July 1966 was unsettled with frequent thunderstorms. Quarter final day (Saturday 23rd) was hot and sunny but the weather in the week before the final was cool and wet. On the day itself there was a storm around midday. From footage of the teams coming out of the tunnel you can see the ground is still wet. The match was dry and the sun came out just before the end.

16 June a ten minute downpour. Before that May 30

Not sure why everyone is so down on this summer. We have the most interesting and varied climate in the world. For example in Birmingham for the last two days we have had light drizzle, but now and again we have had heavy drizzle. For most of the summer there has been dark, grey cloud overhead with occasional lighter grey clouds. And the temperatures have ranged from anything between 14 and 17 degrees. How much more variety do you want?

Careful now mushy lad, you're making frosty look like eeyore.

Almost forgot why I hardly ever post on here. Some people turn missing the point into an art form. I wasn't wishing the summer away and some of my favourite footballers are over 30. I was merely noting the difference between a morning in, say late June and one in late July - we have seasons within seasons, along with their different smells, sights and feelings and...oh, never mind

August does seem to throw up fewer hot spells these days (since 2003 maybe?). Those of us with longer memories can recall 1975, a very hot month, when the hottest day in test match history in England took place on the 4th. Not surprisingly that day coincided with cricket's first streaker, a rather chubby man who managed to leap over the stumps at the pavilion end.

I really do get what Mushy is on about re that early morning smell. No, summer isn't over but there's definitely a slight feeling of decay in the air, as if everything is just past it's best. The garden is looking a bit tatty and the flowers are starting to wilt (or perhaps that's just our garden). It's particularly noticeable after a long warm spell like we've just had (in Birmingham) but it hopefully doesn't mean that the shorts need to go away for another year.

Glad to have started an intelligent debate. Now I'm off to the pub dressed, rather rakishly,in my slacks, formal shirt and possibly cravat. Now where did I put my pipe?

Let me explain Gavin - I was trying to be lighthearted. Of course people can wear what they want to wear and of course some people look great in shorts- Mrs bringmesunshine for a start. Apologies for any offence caused. What was it Bob Monkhouse once said? 'everyone laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian...they're not laughing now'.

Think you've missed the (meant to be humourous) point, Backtrack. I'm not against wearing summer clothes, but, honestly, what's wrong with some stylish beige slacks, open toed sandals and a nice fprmal shirt - with rolled up sleeves of course. I'm sure you look lovely today, but some don't.

There are already reports coming in of people wearing innapropriate shorts on the streets of Birmingham. Is it too late to appoint a 'summer clothes tzar' or should we follow Egypt's lead and instruct the military to enforce some dignity? Can't stand two weeks of wobbling white flesh.

Permission to retrieve sandals from behind wellies in under stairs cupboard, sah!

Exactly one year ago today (remember it because it was the day after the torch relay in Leamington) we were discussing a set of apocalyptically bad summer charts with a mixture of despair and grim humour. It genuinely looked as though we were never going to see another long lasting heatwave again in this country, the patterns seemred so locked in. What a difference a year makes. We're not there yet, these are computer predictions after all, and as a self confessed heat lover but respectful of other's preferences, I can see how today's charts might not please everyone. That's fine - but if you do like summer heat and you're still not happy this morning then you really need to find something else to do. So happy for guys like Gavin and Frosty, the eternal optimists who, let's face it have often been subject to a degree of ridicule on these pages. And grateful to all others who have made sense of the bewildering amount of data - especially Tamara and JH for their caution which always helps to keep our feet on the ground. Hopefully, you will all enjoy (literally) your day, or even days, in the sun next week.

Now then Frosty lad, don't start getting negative please, there are enough people on here to do that for us and your positive interpretation of the models cheers me up every day. To be honest the metoffice outlook has been pretty dire for weeks now but many, if not all of us, are having a perfectly reasonable June so far. For any sign of a pattern change I wouldn't look to the met but tend to keep an eye on John Holmes, Tamara, Gibby, TWS and others who in the last couple of summers have flagged up changes miles before the met, who seem to have become a reactive organisation, cautious to the point of paralysis.

Thanks John. Sorry to go off on one but perspective can go out the window when you're trying to get your trousers dry.

No it wasn't on pens (goal from Shearer) and was, I think, the only time England have beaten Germany in a tournament since 1966. And the rest of the summer was indeed 'unsettled'.

Remember the 17th as the day England beat Germany 1-o in Euro 2000 - it was a Saturday and barbecues were widespread. Unfortunately, the weather didn't last and neither did England's participation.

Wouldn't normally post on the moaning thread as I generally don't like to be negative but I have to say the performance of the metoffice over the last few weeks has been abysmal. Longer range forecasts vague to the point of being useless, five dayers even worse and now today I've just seen Peter Gibbs saying there is a possibility of showers in the south but otherwise a dry and increasingly bright day - well here in Birmingham it's been raining all morning! It seems they can't even predict the weather when it's actually happening. Yes I know weather forecasting is difficult but it's not as if these people are keen amateurs. This is a professional organisation with a huge amount of public funding behind it - if we all did our jobs as badly we wouldn't last long. Like I say sorry for the rant and I know JH is probably going to be on my case, but I'm trying to get the washing dry and getting increasingly frustrated.

Interesting list which just goes to show once again how special 1976 was. Surprised to see nothing from 1959 in there, maybe because that was a summer notable for its length rather than its heat.

On the 19th of June 1976 (a Saturday) the whole of the third day of the Lords test was washed out when around half an inch of rain fell over the south east.

While temperatures over the last week may have disappointed some, let's face it we were never promised a heatwave. In fact historically the first half of June is rarely hot. In the great summers of 1990 and 1995 it was cold and fairly wet until the last third and even in '76 the real heat didn't get going until the 21st. And though it looks like this week may be relatively unsettled it's nothing like last years horrendous June - just normal for the time of year.

DANKS very much for that AWD