Looks likely that there will be a heatwave for the UK starting tomorrow (Friday 9th) and lasting for at least a week. B)

Temperatures will get into the high 20s celcius, possibly even reaching 30C on Sunday/Monday. Around the middle of next week there could be some heavy thundery downpours though.

Here in the desert, I like to think our summer started April 1. Our high temperature so far this year has been 43. At 0500 hrs today, it is 26. CAN'T WAIT FOR WINTER! Our AC first came on in late March. Just wondering, on an average, what percentage of homes have cooling units in Shrewsbury? If I recall, not many when I visited last. Of course, it was May.

What percentage of homes have cooling units in Shrewsbury?

Erm, try somewhere between 0 and 1 per cent!

Air conditioning ahhh the thought of it.... :)

Many businessses don't even have systems over here. Although there are now portable units available which are reasonably priced around £150-£200.

I've not even got a fan, although I'm sitting in the garden on my laptop which is better than being in the office which is very warm at the moment.

Just looking at the weather station and its currently 25.6c outside at 18:08.

Sitting on your laptop aint going to do it any fvours Chris.

I know its somthing I'll have to live with :D I was outside working all evening yesterday until it got so dark I could not see to type :)

Here's something stupid I did yesterday, I got into my car put the fans on then the air conditioning then the radio, I sat on the drive for a minute and thought the cars not getting any cooler...

I tried to reverse and the car did not move, then after trying again I realised I'd not even switched the engine on :P

The problem is with cars these days being so quiet and smooth when the engine is running its sometimes hard to tell its even running, thats my excuse anyway!

Aircon is terrible for the environment, there isn't much need in this country fortunately.

With the current hot weather across the UK the Met Office have issued a Heatwave Alert:

Heatwave - Level 2 - Alert
The probability of heatwave conditions in part of England between 0900 on Sunday and 0800 on Wednesday is 80%

High pressure over Scandinavia will allow very warm air to spread in from the continent. The warmest conditions will be across Southeast England, up into the Midlands and into eastern Wales.

Maximum temperatures of between 32 and 33C are likely in these areas, with minima in the order of 20C in London and 18C in the Midlands. Sea breezes will moderate the temperatures near coasts, particularly in east as easterly flow increases.

A little article from the Shropshire Star about it:

http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=46517

Should get cooler from Thursday. But that means another 3 days or so of very hot weather.

Not nice for sleeping or moving about!!

I like the sunshine but I'm not a fan of the heat...

Its currently 28.8c in my office and reading 23.9c on the outdoor weather station. My desk fan is on but its not making a difference.

I bought one of those tower style fans from Argos but I don't think I would recommend them as they don't seem to put out as much air as a normal circular would.

Although I try not to use it very often the car air con is not cooling very much either so I think I'll have to go into Vauxhall this week and get that re-filled.

Not that I'm whinging about the weather I'll have you all know :rolleyes:

Looks like the heatwave will soon wane...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=3583

:)

Those storms are about to head our way I can here the thunder in the distance at the moment and the sky towards Telford is looking very dark and its just starting to lightly rain.

Live Lightning Data: http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/weather/light0900.htm

Yeah thunderstorms now all around Shrewsbury. Quite a bit of rain too.

Tomorrow will be hot again, but not as hot as late.

Shropshire and Staffordshire are currently the worst hit counties (thunderstorm wise) in England at the moment.

It was about 35 C today...and we had a decent rain a few days ago....the first one of 2006!

Albrighton area last night had torrential rainfall and there was flooding.

I heard about the flooding this morning, you can watch on-line at BBC Shropshire

Normally when we get heavy rain here in Shrewsbury Mount Pleasant near to Heathgates Bank floods. Thankfully I don't think it goes into homes.