Summer, Summer, Summer Time……

According to the Met Office, yesterday was officially the start of Summer time here in the UK. So, does the weather reflect this where you are? Are you sunbathing in the garden with a big tub of ice cream and a paddling pool? Or are you pulling on your waterproofs and digging out your wellies from the cupboard?

Hmmm, here at the Oakeley it is more of the rainy variety of summer today than the hot and sunny one! Of course, we all know that the Great British Summer is about as predictable as a bull in a china shop, but surely the start of summer will mean some long, hot, sunny beach days and balmy evenings?

Earlier in the year, forecasters were predicting that this summer would be the hottest on record, completely smashing even last year’s high temperatures and record number of sunny days. Although of course, weather forecasts are notoriously wrong, especially that far in advance. So, there’s really only one way to find out if this summer will be a scorcher, and that’s to welcome the start of summer and see for ourselves. Keep your fingers, toes and paws crossed please!

And if 2014 is to be a record-breaking year, then here’s what it needs to beat, according to figures from the Met Office…..

• Warmest Summer – 2006 was 15.8 degrees Celsius (average across June, July and August)
• Sunniest Summer – 1976 had 669 hours of bright sunshine (in June, July and August)
• Driest Summer – 1995 had just 103 mm or rain (average across June, July and August)
• Wettest Summer – 1912 with a whopping 384 mm of rain (average across June, July and August)
• Coldest Summer – 1922 with a shivery 12.8 degrees Celsius (average across June, July and August)

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