In the UK the year round weather is so blighted by rain and clouds - but the population got a well deserved break recently with some thermometer busting conditions. The last week of June this year saw UK temperatures soar to a reported 35 degrees Celsius (or 95 in Fahrenheit), the warmest since 2006. It was also the highest recorded temperature in June for decades - the average for June is 19-22 degrees Celcius (66-72F).
But when a population starved of warmth and sunshine are given it all in one go, crazy things start to happen.
Sunburn City
First thing you see when the sun comes out in the UK is people stripping down to bikinis to make the most of the sun. Any English town or city on a hot day will be littered with bodies lying around trying to get as much sun on as much of their pale flesh as possible. No doubt doctors surgeries will get more than a few patients through their doors with worrying signs of skin cancer.
The Grass Is Always Greener
True to form, the British mentality can't deal with simply being happy and counting there blessings for more than a few days. As sure as the sun sets, people soon started to complain about it being too hot, getting nostalgic about how cool it was last week. And, inevitably, there were petitions to demand the government do something about the awful hot weather and lack of air conditioning in public places!
Fan Stampede
While one section of the UK population is stripping down to their underwear, the other half rushes down to the high street and sucks up the entire stock of desk fans like some sweaty, many-headed monster. According to Google, searches for the term "portable air conditioner" in the UK went from 9,900 in May to 49,500 in June!
Is That a Storm Cloud on the Horizon?
Unfortunately these Mediterranean conditions failed to stick around, and after a week of this there were equally severe thunderstorms and rain, leading to severe flooding in some parts.The yo-yoing between extreme weather patterns is certainly worrying for environmental campaigners as an example of climate change in effect. Predictably, everyone is now moaning and complaining about the wind and rain, and wishing the heatwave would come back. I guess there's no winning.
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