Un-British weather
I’m going to do something very British here, and talk about the weather. But the reason I’m doing so is because of the very un-British weather we’ve been having today—with me so far?
The weather in Britain is generally defined by its moderation. It doesn’t get very hot, it doesn’t get very cold, and it often drizzles half-heartedly for days on end rather than having a jolly good downpour and getting it all over with. I don’t know what has been going on for the past two days, but it seems as if the British weather has been trying on some tropical weather systems for size, just for kicks. I was off-sick today, and feeling very wan after only two hours of sleep last night (I’ll spare you the details), so I watched the sudden changes in the weather with the words what the hell is going on forming on my lips.
First, it was very bright and sunny, with barely a breath of wind. Then—without so much as a by-your-leave—a huge wind blew up, a ground-shaking clap of thunder made me jump out of my chair, and hailstones the size of beans pummelled the earth for few minutes. Then everything abruptly stopped, the sun came out, and the wind completely stopped. This pattern cycled two or three times during the day. It’s just not on.
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Keith: Sure enough⦠:-D----- Un-British!? - these are April Showers. Fine sunny mornings then the dark clouds boil up like the wrath of God around lunch-time, and then it randomly buckets down in the afternoon, hail and thunder optional. I remember their annual recurrence as the reason why I end up cycling to work less in April-May than I usually manage in March (being a fair-weather+daylight cyclist for the country lanes).
by steve @ 07/04/2004 7:04 am • Permalink •
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I have noted that there is rarely a need for weather forecasting in Oxford, even when sun is predicted, expect rain.
by Helen @ 07/04/2004 12:04 pm • Permalink •
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Sounds like Oklahoma, where I live. Yesterday, 75 degrees and sunny. Today, 60's and raining. By the end of the week, a possible freeze, and high in the 50's. Then, back to the 70's.
by bitweever @ 07/04/2004 5:05 pm • Permalink •
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steve: I suppose so, though I don't remember ever seeing quite such dramatic changes in weather in the UK before. Perhaps I just haven't been paying sufficient attention. I mind rain when cycling less than ice or strong winds, but hail is also a bit hairy.
Helen: Yep, it is a bit of a damp city.
bitweever: Heh. It's that global warming, you mark my words
by bsag @ 07/04/2004 7:05 pm • Permalink •
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bsag: Yup. Global warming, and cooling, and warming again, and cooling...
by bitweever @ 08/04/2004 12:05 am • Permalink •
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Never mind it will be predictable soon, itâs bank holiday this weekend so itâs bound to be rotten weather!
by Keith @ 08/04/2004 9:05 am • Permalink •
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