Wanstead weather
@wansteadweather
Meteorological stats and phenomena for East London. FRMetS Conditions AKA @wanstead_meteo over on X
Hottest days compared. 2026 (so far): 102 of 250 reports ≥30°C (40.8%) 1976: 217 of 539 reports ≥30°C (40.3%) Cheltenham, like hundreds of other WS, now defunct. Wisley was 2nd in 1976 with 34.8°C In 2026 it reach 35.5°C Scotland really shortchanged by comparison this year.
On to things that actually matter... The mean for July thus far is 23.3C, that's 4.8C above average! Perhaps as notable is the 9am air pressure which has barely shifted. Nothing that high, nothing that low - the standard deviation is the lowest since at least 2014. It = NO RAIN!
The mean maximum for the opening 2 weeks of July has been 2C warmer than any July since 2014. And a degree warmer than the same period in 1976
Almost like MODIS is playing tricks, making the area over Great Britain and Ireland look like a forcefield. A textbook shaped warm and cold front out in the Atlantic.
A high of only 27.2C. 2026 so far, however, has already seen more ≥30ºC so far locally than any year.
Recent hottest part of the #heatwave ranks 6th in the all-time list, after June. Both this year and 1976 had two spells. But the average for this year's spells shows the mean is 1.3C hotter! The heatwave is ongoing but this list is to separate wheat from the chaff wansteadmeteo.com/2015/06/26/p...
The North Sea is the UK's best air conditioner. 18C in Cromer, 29.5C in Thorney Island
Stuck in a rut! There's been very little variation in 9am air pressure this month, in fact the least amount since at least 2014.
It's been quite the summer for 'scorchers' (max temp * sun hours) There's already seven so far in this particular ranking, compared with just four for 1976. Obviously as we move away from the summer solstice these become harder to achieve.
Sunshine at Heathrow is neck and neck with 1976 - yet average maxima at Wanstead is 1.9C higher than that classic summer
Quite a consistent NNE'ly has been building since 0200. It is weak but is certainly most welcome
2006 is often cited as a yardstick for decent July weather. But 2026 average maxima during the opening 10 days was over 4C warmer!
MODIS image showing how much more parched the east side of the country is compared with the west. And some nice cloud formation over the SE
A tropical night in Wanstead with a low of 20.5C, the first tropical July night in 4 years. They're quite rare; only 8 have been recorded here in the local series!
Lots of stations appear to have broken the date record for today, 32.7C at Brogdale in 2010
35.4C the high, the hottest max for 4 years. It places 6th in the list back to 1959
Only 2 days made the 23.5C cut. Bizarre - but that's the rules of this particular series.
I've heard that sunnier skies are partly to blame for increased heating in recent years but 2026 is lagging previous years though is VERY close to 1976. Average maxima at Wanstead is 1.9C up on 1976. Where is that additional heat coming from?
Look at the records that tumbled across Europe in June. Seven states into the 40Cs! This is not ‘just a few dodgy Met Office stations’. Graphic from @data.ft.com
Despite claims by some that things have 'returned to normal' the average maximum since the first heatwave in May (21/5) is now 26.3C! That's 1.5C warmer than the second warmest, 2025 and 1.9C warmer than 1976!
A high of 32.4C today, 0.4C down on yesterday, same as UK's hottest Frittenden. The 13th >30C day so far this year.
Although the max was nearly as high as some days in June the dew point was 11.6C today instead of 20.8C on the 25th. That makes a huge difference in making heat bearable. Consider this chart.
The early July pause in high temperatures that has happened in 75% of the last 12 years not happening this year, with temps in the SE low to mid 30C likely.
Looking like maxima date records are at risk next week, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Since May 21st when this hot weather first started the average maximum has been 26C, a full degree warmer than last year and ahead of 1976's 24.3C. Despite claims by some that things have 'gone back to normal'.