MP-R

Flash of lightning and rumble of thunder in the distance from that cell in the Severn estuary.

Almost got away with a dry day but some unexpected showers have arrived in the last hour grrr.

Exceptional yes, but keep in mind that this happened in the closing 3 days of the month, which until then, was very unsettled. Tentative signs of a more settled and more typically August-like final third to the month with a slightly more meridional jet to between now and then. I suppose as we get nearer the end of the month, with the Atlantic up a notch, it won't take long for the typical N/S split to appear, edging south with time. That's all a very long way off however, and I hope to see at least one settled spell this month before I go away on the 28th.

Nice sky just north of here.

A few flashes and rumbles near Wells recently.

Perhaps this is what summer will look like more often after October 31st... Signs of pressure rises after next weekend but that of course means another week of wasted time. ECM looks less ridiculously autumnal than the GFS. I’m personally hoping for at least a week of settled sunshine between the 20th and 27th. After that it can do what it likes as I go away in search of summer for the third time this year lol.

You're probably thinking of 2016, which was indeed warm, but not overly settled. The 12th-15th of that month was bordering on hot. 2017 on the other hand was cool and very wet.

Indeed it is such a pain these lows are timed for the weekend. Another weekend of plans potentially scuppered. Then another one ganging up for the Bank Holiday weekend. Each one is coming in further south too despite drawing up pretty warm uppers ahead of them. Not far to the east over Europe there will be high temperatures.

I wonder if we'll have another August-October 2017 type period. A naff August, with a warm and sunny Bank Holiday, then an even naffer September, then August synoptics turning up in October lol. Seems to happen so often now - early October being more reliable for nice weather than August and September. Unfortunately, I can't see September bringing about any notable improvement if August continues poor. It's only done that once in recent times and that was in 2014.

Or we’ve just been lucky with the placement of troughs and highs, which would of course be unlucky in winter as we’d end up with a negative NAO and still end up mild.

A very typical Augtober day with frequent heavy showers and squally winds in those showers. Maybe we will get 8th month synoptics in Octaugust.

Thought I was woken up by thunder at about 04:30 and Smartie’s report confirms that.

I’m talking about this month. Haven’t had a completely sunny day since July.

First day back in the UK. Humid it certainly is but mostly cloudy since 1pm. When oh when will we get a fully sunny day!

It’s quite funny how these lows like to arrive on Fridays. First the 7th June, then 19th July and now 9th August. Perfectly timed to mess up weekend plans or events - this time the Bristol balloon fiesta. Not many flights will be had I don’t think. Also looking quite cool beyond the weekend. Relatively warm for the south at least before then but that’s all irrelevant if it’s not sunny.

All looks a bit naff going forward, as if September has arrived a month early. Might just stay in Spain. At least it’s summer here!

Funny seeing these autumn comments already. It was quite foggy early on July 23rd then became hot and sunny 32C in the afternoon. A long way to go before autumn.

Saw some decent convection west of Zaragoza, NE Spain this afternoon.

I saw some decent convection in Zaragoza, NE Spain this afternoon.

I’ve said it before elsewhere on the forum but August here is probably the most consistent summer month here - consistently mediocre (only occasionally good). June and July are either the corkers or stinkers. Late August to at least New Year however I’d expect the Atlantic to have the upper hand, perhaps further into the winter if we get a strong La Niña or El Niño to override the climatological norm.

Look no further than the last 2 years, 2017 especially. 2015 was pretty cool too.

I’d rather it the other way around lol. Nice during summer then unsettled in autumn (then again we are long overdue a settled September!). Off to northern Spain for a week so hoping for some storms at least in the Pyrenees. Without all the low cloud in between!

Wettest part of the day now with rain against the windows.

Just drizzly rain so far. Occasional sun too.

A few light showers earlier but mainly dry so far. Pepping up later hopefully.