By early July the course of our summer can often seem set. If we have had a warm settled June water temperatures in our local seas may well have risen above normal and the weather pattern look set into a classic ‘blocked’ set up; the Azores high pressure may be well to the north of its usual position, extending well to the north east across the United Kingdom, with gentle south easterly winds pulling up some very warm air up from the heart of the sun baked European continent.

Conversely, we may have found that the unsettled weather we associate with a mobile Atlantic has not let up on us through June, bringing a regular supply of depressions, albeit weak ones, across us, more especially to the northern and western parts of the British Isles.

Such different patterns are a regular feature of our changeable patterns of weather across our maritime islands and the reason why those of us affected by the weather- which after all is probably most, if not all of us, in some way, should never be lulled into a sense of security that we really know what to expect from our summers on a year by year basis.

However we can at least prepare for the kind of summers that offer long dry hot periods of weather interspersed with short wetter spells. This is the type of weather that some climate change experts tell us we can expect more of in the future here in the UK, as we experience the effects of global warming. As it stands June has offered a very warm, dry start to the summer this year despite the thundery breakdowns we experienced at mid month. Although May was very wet, June provided a complete and perhaps unexpected contrast, in the south at least, although perhaps it should be the month of May that we think of as the surprising ‘exception’, given the long dry periods in the south before this, that led to unusually low water tables for parts of the south east.

For the gardener we can utilise water butts in the garden to collect the rain that may fall from short lived storms before it runs off. We can choose plants that do not need a lot regular watering such as (to add) and yet can well cope with wet summers should they occur.

For our holiday periods we can try and be aware of how those in water impoverished countries take care of their own water supplies. They are encouraged to have quick showers rather than baths; use water sparingly and recycle it where possible, do not leave it running, accept that large areas of green grass are simply not feasible all summer long and utlise garden sprinklers carefully.

Likewise on hot days both at home and abroad we should remember to drink plenty of fluids and not forget to give the kids plenty to drink as well. Whilst we are well drilled in the need for sunscreens nowadays, it is surprising how often we forget to have extra fluids. We generally expect to drink a lot whilst on a sunshine holiday abroad and yet forget that conditions can be just as demanding when working inside on a hot day or doing some kind of exercise such as walking, cycling or playing another sport outside.

Whatever the rest of the summer brings (and you can see the forecast from ‘Wiseweather’ just here) we hope you enjoy it and if you are recording it from our instruments, hope that you can get some interesting readings as well!