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Is the heatwave hotter than the summer of 1976?

(187 Posts)
ElderlyPerson Wed 21-Jul-21 23:00:50

Is the heatwave hotter than the summer of 1976 or is it just that we were all a lot younger then?

Infinity2 Wed 21-Jul-21 23:03:07

I think this one’s hotter. I remember that one well and despite being a lot younger and fitter ( those were the days !) I don’t remember being unable to sleep at night and having a fan on all the time.

Casdon Wed 21-Jul-21 23:07:22

I’d say no, I’m sure the temperatures were in the 30s for ages then, and that it didn’t rain for months. We are only in it less than a week this time so far.

Hellogirl1 Wed 21-Jul-21 23:14:36

It`s possibly hotter, but won`t be lasting anywhere near as long. It was mid September before it rained, from the middle of summer, where we were, anyway. We went on holiday for a week in September, and it rained on the Thursday, after suffering the heat all summer at home and at work.

SueDonim Wed 21-Jul-21 23:14:47

No, I don’t think so. That one went on for weeks and weeks and weeks.

tanith Wed 21-Jul-21 23:16:07

I was very pregnant with my son during that heatwave he was born the middle of July, and trust me it went on for weeks I spent many hours just sat in the shower to try to keep cool even after he was born it was still very hot and stormy. It’s only been a few days ?

muse Wed 21-Jul-21 23:29:22

The odd day may be hotter but there were parts of UK that had no rain for nearly 7 weeks in 1976.

annodomini Wed 21-Jul-21 23:33:59

It was the longest heatwave I can remember, but I can't remember being told the temperature on the Celsius scale. I think that in the 70s they mostly reported temperatures on the Fahrenheit scale, and I do remember hearing that they were consistently in the 80s. 30 Celsius is 86 Fahrenheit. So I don't know if it's hotter but it's certainly as hot.

Smileless2012 Wed 21-Jul-21 23:40:38

I don't think it's any hotter and according to the forecast it will be cooling down by the weekend. In 1976 it lasted for weeks and as Casdon has posted it's been less than a week anyway.

SueDonim Wed 21-Jul-21 23:57:57

Hellogirl I clearly remember the heatwave breaking in September - it was the day we moved house! ? ?

mumofmadboys Thu 22-Jul-21 00:31:26

I did A levels in 1976. I remember finding it so hard to study in the excessive heat.

seacliff Thu 22-Jul-21 05:26:12

It was nearly 2 months for us on Essex in 76. I do wonder if we used to have a dryer heat then, as it didn't seem quite so debilitating. Global warming or anno Domini?

Juliet27 Thu 22-Jul-21 05:55:49

I’ve just googled and it says the hottest temperature in the 1976 heatwave was 35.9 in Cheltenham on July 3rd.

Grannyboots1 Thu 22-Jul-21 06:09:37

I think it was hotter and remember my American Tan tights sticking to me at work!!

Sar53 Thu 22-Jul-21 06:15:55

The heatwave of 1976 went on for weeks of relentless hot days. My eldest daughter was born in June and the last month of my pregnancy was unbearable.

MawBe Thu 22-Jul-21 06:42:13

Certainly as hot, if not hotter but, more important it went on for weeks. As I remember a Minister for Drought was appointed and that sorted it! ☔️☔️☔️☔️☔️

MawBe Thu 22-Jul-21 06:43:10

I meant to start with 1976 was as hot if not hotter

25Avalon Thu 22-Jul-21 06:51:12

It rained on one day the summer of 76 - our wedding day!

I can remember emptying the twin tub into buckets to pour on the grass turf which had turned brown.

lemongrove Thu 22-Jul-21 06:51:27

tanith

I was very pregnant with my son during that heatwave he was born the middle of July, and trust me it went on for weeks I spent many hours just sat in the shower to try to keep cool even after he was born it was still very hot and stormy. It’s only been a few days ?

I was pregnant that year too, the heat was awful.We had stand pipes fitted to get water, further up the road and gardens looked like deserts.

NotSpaghetti Thu 22-Jul-21 06:56:08

It went up to 35.6C in 1976.
Not there yet.

NotSpaghetti Thu 22-Jul-21 06:58:19

Here's an article in the Bristol Post:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/1976-heatwave-met-office-weather-5655686.amp

33⁰ expected in some areas today, apparently.

allule Thu 22-Jul-21 07:02:52

seacliff

It was nearly 2 months for us on Essex in 76. I do wonder if we used to have a dryer heat then, as it didn't seem quite so debilitating. Global warming or anno Domini?

I caused a fire that summer …chip pan blush…and remember being able to leave all the furniture outside in the garden while everthing was cleaned and redecorated, without even considering the possibility of rain.

Calendargirl Thu 22-Jul-21 07:04:10

DS born in August 1976. No, it was hotter and as others have said, started late May I think.

Govt advised sharing baths to save water. I remember watering the garden with washing up water daily, we were told the soapy water would kill the weeds.

allule Thu 22-Jul-21 07:04:33

What did I do there? Sorry smile

DanniRae Thu 22-Jul-21 07:11:06

OMG I don't even remember the heat wave of 1976! I had two children of 5 and 3 and was a stay at home mum. I have diaries going back that far I will take a look confused

I will be back.........grin