Earthshine

Currently in Vienna and it's like I've been transported to mid July - 27°C on Sunday and 23°C today. Trees in full leaf, people out and about in shirts and everything and everyone so full of life.

Relate to quite a few here. Ending up wishing away half my life from October to April these days. It's cemented the fact I really have to leave the UK at some point!

Cheshire Freeze A 2007-style summer after these diabolical last 6 months would crush me. Thank god I've at least got a week in Athens booked for July!

View in Vienna today. Remarkable how green it is at the start of April. Already 26°C.

Seriously fed up of this weather now. That first week of cloudless skies and 20°C temperatures I will cry tears of joy!

LetItSnow! Haha would you look at that. Just need a 14°C+ May now I would say

A cracking summer month. Third hottest on record in terms of maximum and means CET (24.1°C and 18.7°C respectively). It was the fourth sunniest August in UK records with 54% of normal rainfall too. Remarkable it came off the back of an 18°C CET July which saw the first 40°C on record. Some textbook examples of a summertime high pressure. Feels a long time ago now!

I really just want a high pressure system on top of the UK for a week. It's been months!!

In Absence of True Seasons Thanks! Yep if it's going to be constant I'd rather constant gorgeous weather than constant crud like you said! I don't handle cold well at all, I suffer from Raynaud's syndrome so even wearing gloves doesn't help significantly. I've never had a problem with heat surprisingly, I tend to stay cool quite easily (well anything below 40°C I suppose!). Definitely not built for the UK

In Absence of True Seasons I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm looking at postdocs in San Diego where winter is 19°C and summer is 25°C with over 3000 hours of sunshine a year. That sounds absolutely divine.

I am really, really hoping for a sunny and dry summer. Although I hate just wishing months of every year waiting for a spring and summer which may also be rubbish! I just don't think I'm cut out for this climate and I think I just need to leave the UK. I'm very jealous of those who love the climate here but it's just not for me.

Interesting perspectives, thanks all. I think my perspective on winter would be much different if it were sunnier. This winter has basically been constant since October. Majority mild and damp. Such darkness and lack of variation for someone who enjoys interesting weather isn't ideal. I can deal with constant sunshine, but constant damp is tough. Hoping for a switch soon but this damp crud really is relentless. That first cloudless day will feel divine.

Hi all, I've found my health starts to decrease in the winter months. During the summer with long evenings and pleasant temperatures I am extremely active, running most nights and spending a lot of time outdoors. I eat better and sunlight really does improve my mood. I'm more productive at work, even on hot and humid days. I'm better able to handle stress as I have more opportunities to go on long runs (which substantially improve my mental health). I get sick way less often and there is more colour everywhere, from bright greens to bright blues and everything in between. This past winter has been particularly tough for me. The ground is sodden, which makes trail runs far more difficult. The wind, the rain and the darkness after work really make exercise outdoors more difficult. The lack of sun, where I literally need to self medicate with vitamin D to avoid deficiencies. The grey colour scheme to everything outside. I know some people love this time of year, but it personally crushes my soul. I am hoping to move abroad to do postdoctoral work after my postgraduate degree. It doesn't even need to be that warm in winter, just less wet and dark. There is a lot of work in my field of research in San Diego - 20C winters and 26C summers. That's my kind of climate!

33C

If by "scorching" sun you mean a typical clear sky in summer, then snow has gotta go. If you mean a scorching sun like Death Valley then yes scorching sun would go!