EXTREME WEATHER WARNING

Lucca I’m a half Irish and half Yorkshire.
My make up is not designed for sun!
I’m very good at drinking and having fun though?.

I've just checked my forecast and it's predicted here to be 27C Monday, at 10pm that is, having fallen 10 degrees during the evening. I'm hoping that they are wrong, I'm also wishing that I bought a Aircon unit when my DH suggested it last year.

Teacheranne

Callistemon21

In 1976 it went on for weeks and weeks and life had to go on

The heat started around 24th June as I was in the maternity home and ended, where we lived, in mid-September. DD aged 2 didn't know what the rain was as she couldn't remember it because it had hardly rained for sixteen months.

But it rained for days in Cornwall during part of August. I remember sitting in a tent on my first holiday without my parents looking out at stair rods outside. I was talking about it today and my friend remembered it raining while she was on holiday in Devon at around the same time. We ended up packing up and moving to a campsite in South Wales to get some sun!

It must have all fallen on Cornwall before it reached our bit of Devon!

The reason for the alert levels is the increase in pressure on the NHS and associated excess deaths. The authorities have a duty to minimize the impact. As for saying it's only a couple of days, that's the point, as a country we are not used to dealing with this excess. A lot of hospitals don't have Aircon, or even windows that open. The forecast is for a very humid day Tuesday adding to the distress. Most of us will be fine if course but we do need to be aware.

You're right of course, it is ridiculous, but then lots of people are ridiculous and then blame the government. It's the same as when people flock to the coast, spend the day in the sun and complain about sunburn, or take to the water in a flimsy lilo or child's rubber boat and really wonder why they get blown out to sea. Grrr!

Sago

It’s raining here too Lucca?.

I suspect we both live in gods own county Sago !

Here in Gtr Manchester we’ve had some hot weather but no consistent heatwave yet.
I’ve been irritated by the non stop ‘advice’ on how to cope with heat. This irritation doesn’t compare with the anger I’ve felt when seeing people walking their dogs in the mud day heat. The pavements are hot to touch. I want to ask these idiots to go barefoot in a fur coat and get marched along for an hour

So much as I feel the panic level is over the top, there are some people so ignorant they need the non stop advice. Sadly, they’re too arrogant/stupid to follow it

It’s raining here too Lucca?.

It’s raining here….

I can remember the lawns being brown for weeks on end and not having to mow. Watering the garden with water that was saved from washing up, twin tub washing machine, bath water and anything else you could use, nothing was wasted. Oh and only flushing the loo when really necessary!! Apart from severe water shortages I can't remember it being a particular emergency though.

Callistemon21

^In 1976 it went on for weeks and weeks and life had to go on^

The heat started around 24th June as I was in the maternity home and ended, where we lived, in mid-September. DD aged 2 didn't know what the rain was as she couldn't remember it because it had hardly rained for sixteen months.

But it rained for days in Cornwall during part of August. I remember sitting in a tent on my first holiday without my parents looking out at stair rods outside. I was talking about it today and my friend remembered it raining while she was on holiday in Devon at around the same time. We ended up packing up and moving to a campsite in South Wales to get some sun!

I remember having a humongous row with a gardener at a bowling green when I saw the hose’s watering the green. The council informed me they were exempt ?

Yes but it's only for three days!! Not week after week as it was in 76 which can get very trying as can very cold weather, 1962/3. However, a lot of us to on holiday most years for two + weeks deliberately choosing very hot countries and yet curiously can't cope with three days here. I think most people know how to keep cool and really don't need to be nannyed and fussed over as if we're children. State of emergency?? Surely not.

In 1976 it went on for weeks and weeks and life had to go on

The heat started around 24th June as I was in the maternity home and ended, where we lived, in mid-September. DD aged 2 didn't know what the rain was as she couldn't remember it because it had hardly rained for sixteen months.

Nandalot

Well up until yesterday it was. Head teacher had been in contact with said park to see if date could be changed but no go. But yes, I am hopeful that sense will prevail.

Maybe the school has some kind of portable gazebo thing ?

It was measured in Fahrenheit then and I remember it was 96F in our back garden.

One big difference was that we have two days of extreme temperatures forecast for next week. In 1976 it went on for weeks and weeks and life had to on, people had to travel to work, shop for food, factories had to keep running children
go to school etc and carry on as normal
TBH especially those of us who are retired could stay in bed for two days and hardly notice it.

I am not wishing to be dismissive but surely we can cope with two days without a major panic?

In the 76 heatwave, the hottest temperature was 35 degrees.
40 degrees is the estimate for Tuesday.

but those who died in the heatwave of 1976, and of 2003, are not here to comment.
there are excess deaths in a heatwave, and are expected in this coming one.
it is incorrect to say that we all survived perfectly well in the 1976 heatwave.

No, Wednesday will be at least 10%/15% cooler and will stay that way for the foreseeable. So not exactly a crisis.

Oh, I thought it was lasting until at least September.
Silly me!!

The heatwave will be over by Wednesday, surely this panic is a tad over-the-top? (Cobra meeting, national emergency??)) Friends who live in Spain have this sort of heat week in week out from May - September and survive perfectly well without a fuss, as we all did in 1976, also the winter 1962/3, when we just got on with it. Why do we in this country make such a meal of extreme heat or cold that usually only lasts two or three days?

V3ra

Nandalot

Well up until yesterday it was. Head teacher had been in contact with said park to see if date could be changed but no go. But yes, I am hopeful that sense will prevail.

Is the whole school going or would some pupils still be at school?
Your grandchildren's parents could always keep them off school that day if they're not happy about the trip.

This is a difficult decision for the school as the theme park doesn't seem prepared to offer an alternative date and probably won't refund the money either.

Nandalot

Well up until yesterday it was. Head teacher had been in contact with said park to see if date could be changed but no go. But yes, I am hopeful that sense will prevail.

Is the whole school going or would some pupils still be at school?
Your grandchildren's parents could always keep them off school that day if they're not happy about the trip.

I really don't understand why anyone is exercised by Met Office warnings. And as far as the media reporting is concerned - well everyone knows that dramatic headlines improve circulation.

We are not being 'nannied', we are being informed - and like all other 'warnings' of this nature, the Met Office has to cater for the lowest-common-denominator and assume that not everyone knows everything about what to do in a heatwave. And not everyone does. I've seen two people walking panting dogs in the middle of the day on the sunny-side of the road.

If you're seasoned to heatwaves in our normally temperate climate, then just scroll on by the intentionally dramatic headlines - and you certainly don't need to log on to to the MO website.

But if any of the information or tips help to save someone from heatstroke, or becoming ill through de-hydration, electrolyte imbalances, overheating, etc, etc... what does it matter to you? People die in heatwaves. I'm no fan of any Tory government, but it really does seem like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. They will certainly be 'responsible' if there are excessive deaths and 'questions will be asked'. The government is having a COBRA meeting to save itself from accusations of negligence.

The information is out there, it's not obligatory to read it and you're completely free to ignore it.