After the hottest British June in the history of history, the return to dreary ‘changeable’ weather has come as an entirely predictable disappointment. The science of meteorology is not one of my strong points but I know a gut feeling when I feel one and my gut feeling is that we have probably seen the last of the hot stuff. Apparently, the Jet Stream has now moved into the wrong place and is bringing in what we refer to as shit weather.
This is particularly unfortunate for people who for one reason or another are obliged to take their holidays in July and August. If they stay in the UK, they will face the double whammy of being fleeced financially and having to invest in wet weather gear.
I say this with no sense of pleasure. In our early child-rearing years, there was a time when the height of our summer pleasure revolved around a small chalet on the North Cornwall/North Devon border. Sadly for us, the sun had retreated behind dark clouds for the duration and all that was left to ‘enjoy’ would have been tatty and overpriced ‘theme’ attractions. When it’s pissing with rain, you can only make your own entertainment by paying for it. And even then it isn’t usually any good.
There is, I suppose, something to be said for the maritime climate we ‘enjoy’, particularly in view of temperatures elsewhere in the world. I read that Athens is set to reach 42-43c later this week, Majorca something similar and Sicily and Sardinia something akin to Death Valley, possibly reaching a staggering 47-48c. We all know someone who exaggerates their holiday temperatures – “It is 50c every day. The locals say it’s the hottest they’ve ever known it” – but trust me if you are just off Italy this week, you will stay in the shade in search of air conditioning and gallons of ice cold water.
For some people, specifically the hard of thinking, the return to changeable weather is proof that climate change and global warming is a myth. Missing the point entirely, the cool, wet weather just outside my back door means that we can carry on as normal. Taking a lead from serious intellects like the former actor and now professional gobshite Laurence Fox, literally thousands of people now think it’s perfectly harmless driving around the country in a giant diesel-powered RV or SUV. Of course, neither climate change nor global warming are hoaxes and there is unanimity among scientists that both are happening at an alarming rate.
In a country like ours where the weather default-setting is changeable, it’s easy to be sceptical. Today, give or take 10-15c, could be any day of the year. But the mad heat events, like June, and the increased number of serious floods and other extreme events provide real evidence that all is not well.
When you are holidaying in Britain, you may find it preferable to spend time in hot, sunny weather, regardless of it being a likely symptom of climate change. I mean, it’s only two weeks away from the grindstone, and it all evens out in the end, right? But it doesn’t, not anymore.
We have a week off next week – actually, let’s be honest about this: my partner has a week off. Every week is a week off for me these days – and we know that we will have to tailor our itinerary around the weather. And actually at this early stage, it doesn’t look too bad. But we’re very lucky. We’ve been able to afford a holiday where we were pretty well guaranteed warm weather. Not everyone is as fortunate and it’s one reason I have scaled back my holiday enthusiasm on social media. If it rains, well we’ve had our sun already and I take no joy from those who will see nothing like it in the peak holiday months.
Happy holidays, folks. I hope the sun shines on you.
