Number 23

Can't quite believe some of the output at the moment. If we have to endure extreme heat, I'd much rather see the ECM verify and the record go than have it get to 38C and just fall short. I'm flying to SW France on Monday afternoon to see the folks... could I be witnessing records go in two different countries in one day? Just for fun, the automated BBC app going for a rather outlandish 44c on Monday down there. Not sure about that but I'd say 42 might be breached somewhere with the 24c 850s nosing in mid afternoon?

Ouch. Fingers crossed I don't get the same pleasure!

Don't wish to jinx it, but it does feel like this storm might pass wihtout causing too much devastation here. Think we've got off lightly compared to others in the red zones.

Power flickering here now. Some very strong gusts starting to break branches and rattle the bulding. Looks like the worst of it is imminent.

Events gradually starting to build momentum here. Trees yielding in the gusts, which are steadily increasing in intensity and frequency. Work have sent out a girl in the office to collect a car from Hertfordshire. Couldn't believe it. There does seem to be a general apathy about this, which I'm sure will change when things flying past the window. My concern is the area of impact/population density will mean widespread power cuts, which could take an awfully long time to rectify.

Not really been following the weather for a couple of weeks, looked out the window and it's bloody snowing. What? Just a transient thing obviously, but an interesting surprise.

Well, was odd standing in the garden on the morning of new year's day, T-Shirt and jeans and feeling pleasantly warm. With the birds singing, you could close your eyes and imagine it was early May. As much as it was nice, I couldn't help but ponder how much our changing climate has to do with this.

Call me jaded, but seeing clean easterlies at day 9 always makes me suspicious, so I spared my family from suggestions of a white Christmas. I'll take the cold without snow so long as it's dry; any kind of ppn though and I'd prefer 15 degrees and a nice waft of mild air! Still, nice to have some interest in the MOD to keep me going through covid isolation.

Totally with you on that! Although the promise of a '91 type spell (my personal favourite) would make up for the elevated gas bill!

Really enjoyed the mild and settled start to Autumn myself. Thoughts inevitably turning to winter as the nights draw in. As others have mentioned, extreme cold spells this year have lost their appeal, mainly because of the energy and supply chain crisis. I'd still take a decent cold spell, over Christmas ideally. Then I'd be satisfied with average rainfall and above average temps for the balance of the autumn/winter. Now watch us get snowed in for four months!

Well after a poor summer down here, September gave us a really nice top up of warmth and sun to see us through the shorter, gloomy days. Very happy as I was dreading this autumn / winter period at the end of August. Awoke to a very Autumnal morning, trees yielding in the wind and very dark. Not my favourite conditions, but much easier to cope with now! Hoping for a mainly bright and settled autumn and winter, with the odd cold spell to make it interesting. Let's see what it brings.

Bloody hell, this is relentless... At least I now know what it'd be like to live on a miniature planet orbiting Martin Kemp's head. Can't see September bringing much in the way of warmth or sunshine either. This horrible pattern seems so entrenched. Really need this winter to be bright at least. I have the same kind of sun and warmth cravings I normally have in February... and we're only just entering Autumn!

Another day, another monotone slab overhead. Starting to feel like we're turning the corner now into autumn, the loss of evening light is noticeable. Makes the gloom du jour even harder to stomach!!

Summer has been pretty dire down here overall, and it does feel like we're going to crap out sadly, made worse because it's on the heels of a terrible Spring. Apart from a few stifling days here and there, it's been very hard to get sustained periods of pleasant and settled weather, much the same as Spring. I dread losing the long days normally, but the prospect of Autumnal gloom feels even less inviting this year. Roll on April 2022 and we'll have another go eh?!

Yeah the April cold really took the edge off the sunshine for me. I'm craving that early morning warmth when you know it's going to be a hot one. I'm a naturally warm person, so when I'm in a jumper in June you know it's crap weather! Fingers crossed it gets better, but I just have a feeling this summer is going to be "one of those". We'll see.

Looks like we're going to burn through another two weeks of summer at least now. It's felt like late October for months now. We could arrive at midsummer having only had two weeks of warm settled weather all year. Dreadful outlook. Going to feel a long slog of a winter if we don't get a backloaded/indian summer!

Feels raw outside. Just got clobbered with a hail shower. Full woolly hat, gloves and coat job out there. If only I brought them Wretched.

The wait goes on. And on. And on. Whatever happens from here, it's going to feel like a very short season of warmer temps and longer days before autumn catches up with us. Maybe we'll get lucky with September and October as compensation. My parents live in SW France and have only recently stopped using the wood burner. Anyone claiming that's a normal Spring pattern needs a reality check! Just desperately poor luck given recent times.

"Leave the gloss work until late Spring" I said. "We can leave the windows open all day and night" I said. To say I'm looking forward to a few days of 20+ is quite the understatement. June, perhaps?

Arrrgh make it stop. Heating on in May is a sure sign we're not enjoying a good Spring. I do fear we could be sliding into June before we see anything which can be described as warm. Really hope we get an Indian summer as compensation, as it's going to feel like a very short trot into autumn otherwise!!

I think this April feels so much worse because we're all anticipating finally having some freedom. Last spring would've been perfect for some BBQ/beer garden weather to celebrate some positive news. As it stands, inviting a friend or family over to sit in the bloody cold in the back garden doesn't really cut it. Let's hope we're getting this tripe out of the way early

Snow in Chelmsford after a t shirt and ice cream day yesterday along Maldon prom. And there was me thinking back in Feb it could be years until we see it again. Not all that pleased about it, but we get what we're given

Just got used to some nice spring warmth! Rancid output for the time of year, but might do us a favour in keeping people indoors over some of the Easter break I suppose.

Yep, I want the winter coat in the cupboard now. Lighter evenings starting to catch up with the end of the traditional working day, which is when I begin feeling like spring is just around the corner. Given the vaccine rollout and a genuine prospect of an end to the crisis, this spring feels quite symbolic, and I'm hoping for a repeat of last year. I like summer to spill into September and early October as there's a tangible benefit to extending warm conditions. The same can't be said for winter in March unless we get exceptional depth of cold. So it's a no from me!

Well after a cold spell which (for me) lingered a little longer after the snow stopped than I'd have liked, normality returns. Actually feels quite pleasant in the sunshine. Not sad to see the back of the icy pavements either, which nearly had me on my backside several times. No appetite for further cold at this point, since it'll be the back end of Feb before it arrives. Wouldn't say no to a BBQ in the garden before a decent thunderstorm rolls in though. Bit of weather to get through before I can do that I reckon!