“There has been a widespread feeling that this summer was a big letdown, unusually cool and even cold at times. But was it really so bad?”
For me it’s not about the actual temperature it’s about the dependability of the weather.
When I was a kid, cough-cough years ago, summer was weeks of decent weather. It might not have had the temperature extremes we’re seeing now but it was warm and sunny for weeks. Glorious, long weeks.
Now it feels like you can’t even plan a barbecue because it might be nice or it might be absolutely shitting down with rain.
So they just compared averages/peaks and said “it’s just your perception being used to too hot weather, it’s not unusually cold”.
Fair, but that feels very superficial. Was the temperature variation higher than usual? More/less rainfall or humidity?
This is not to say our perception isn’t warped by climate change, but climate change isn’t just higher temperatures. Normal weather patterns changing, more extremes, etc.
I don’t have the time or will to check on that, but I just feel making a 3 paragraph article on a complicated phenomenon as weather and climate is just a bit lacking.
I really enjoyed the summer this year. I thought it was far sunnier most of my summers. Really been enjoying the clear blue sky’s and few rainy days. Went for a hike the other day and got sun burnt though. I mean I live in NZ now but the past few months have been a better summer than a normal UK one.
