Night of the Big Heat! (Title nicked from 1967 Sci-Fi Film).
Last night was just plain silly! Went out to meet friends at 8.30pm, outside temp was 34C! It was most definitely in the shade, officially Sunset a few minutes before, but in the burbs of London, the Sun had dropped out of sight behind the building skyline a good hour or so before! Came home at midnight and still 28C! - now that's considered as a HOT daytime temperature by most folk!
Spent the eve in a pub garden (a few miles out towards the 'country', which normally brings a noticeable drop in temps of a few degrees!) wearing T-shirt and shorts, drinking ice cold drinks - and was bloody uncomfortable, it was hot and oppressive! Very glad to get back into the A/C'd car!
Slept the sleep of the righteous in a A/C'd bedroom (no A/C equals no sleep in my world, I seriously dislike these temperatures! - and without A/C the house is somewhere between low and high 30C's! - the very fabric of it positively radiates heat at you as it gets the sun from sunrise to sunset!), awoke to mid 30C temps outside again at 8.30am! Dog had the most cursory of walks, which uncharacteristically (she loves her walks) suited her just fine too, mention of 'home' had her filled with a new enthusiasm and a desire to get there ASAP, like a sled dog on a mission!
When or where do we start searching for the glowing alien 'blobs'?
Away in the van yesterday.
9 AM temperature was reading 32°C.
Looking to turn in for the night at around 10.15 with temperature reading 34°C.
No air-conditioning just windows and roof open and flake out on the bed.
I am in the Norfolk coast, and the wind had dropped on the hottest day in the UK, however, there was still a breeze, thank goodness.
Slept quite well with good ventilation in the van without the need to turn on the air con surprisingly.
Glad I am not at home as the highest temperature was 35degC!
The current heatwave could be the last for this summer/year.
I promise I shall not complain about being cold and wet ever again as I would rather be cold and wet than being too hot and bothered to do anything as I do not like the hot weather, with over 20degC being hot for me personally!
Good job the dog is not bothered by the heat, and is quite happy to mooch around, either sunning it outside or come into the shade when he gets too hot.
If I could help it, I would avoid going up to the Big Smoke for day trips in July and August, to avoid the tourists and also the heat as London is not very good at coping with the heat.
Going back home tomorrow and the house will be hot and stuffy. I might sleep in the van instead if I cannot get it to cool down quick enough with the air con on full blast the moment I walk through the door.
Stay safe everyone!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I like warmth (childhood in Cyprus, Singapore …) and it has been mid 30s up here ie duvet cover / no duvet at night… but not recently. Barely into the 20s in W Scotland today so I’ve put on a gilet this evening. I’m not complaining - our grass is green, our dairy herds aren’t being sold off.
Feel hugely sorry for the people who lost their homes in the fires this evening.
Whilst the Gov emergency warning message about Wildfires and taking extreme caution with any potential sources of ignition was coming through on my mobile phone this evening, some complete f***wit was letting off fireworks nearby!
On yesterday's morning dog walk, I noticed some morons had overnight collected together a heap of combustible materials and set fire to it in my local park (only a couple of hundred yards from my home), which is totally brown and tinder dry, even the trees are dropping their leaves and looking sorry for themselves! It's weeks since we've seen any rain! It looks as if the fire brigade had attended and extinguished it thankfully. This is an urban park surrounded by housing FFS!
The moronic stupidity of some people beggars belief!
Currently I crave cold and chill, I'm sick of this inescapable heat! I'm sick of not being able to do the lightest chore without sweat dripping of me, more poring off me, soaking clothes and running in my eyes and down my neck! I'm fed up with only being able to walk the dog early morning for fear of her burning her paws on scorching pavements, I'm tired of only being comfortable in A/C'd environments!
I put the A/C on in my bedroom a few hours before bedtime tonight, I had cause to go into my bedroom an hour or so after starting the A/C unit and it was flashing an environmental overheat warning - even the bloody A/C can't cope with it! Had the unit for many years and never seen it do that before! Once it had been running a while it'd knocked the temp down enough for the warning to go away! It's struggling and still too hot to sleep, so delayed going to bed.
Back at home after my trip at the Norfolk coast and it was 30degC, and I turned the air con on full blast in the hope it will be cool enough to sleep; otherwise, I shall sleep in the van with the air con on.
Cooler weather on the way, not much rain though, hey ho!
Popping into Salisbury for a free jazz concert at the cathedral tomorrow.
Was going to camp at Salisbury C&CC for the weekend, however, did not fancy it as it will be a hassle to bring the dog with me to the cathedral.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Only place we have air-con is in the car, and that thankfully is very good. The front of our house faces due south so the sun is on it from dawn to dusk. Despite the heat I don't seem to have had any problem sleeping as, if anything, the heat makes me drowsy. My bedroom has been at a constant 28 degrees for the past couple of weeks so I suppose that's just as well really. I like the heat generally but only up to a point. I start to get uncomfortable at much more than about 28 degrees, and some days here it has been more like 36. Do I prefer cold to hot? I don't like either extreme really. If it stayed between 19 and 26 degrees all year round that would be great! I'm just glad we never go away in school holidays as I think being in our caravan in these temperatures would be unbearable. Not even much point in opening the windows when its just as hot outside as it is in.
I think the tolerability of 'heat' is very much down to humidity levels! Cities tend to be horribly humid as well as hot, and often lack breezes. The countryside and villages in it tend to be less humid. I hate high humidity, and refuse to do saunas and the like because of it, but have tolerated high temps OK in some hot but dry parts of the world. That's what's separating the UK from other parts of the world sharing same or even higher temps, the UK is humid!
The thing I've noticed with the A/C at home is that it fairly rapidly reduces humidity levels (I've got a digital 'weather station' with indoor/outdoor temp and humidity readings), whilst room temp is MUCH slower to reduce. In maybe 10-15 mins the humidity has dropped 10-15% and the room feels infinitely more comfortable, the temp may be closer to an hour to drop a few degrees, and far more than an hour to reach the point where you start thinking this is too chill if you were a little heavy handed with the thermostat setting!
Just to confirm that, the A/C is on a thermostat and trips in and out on temp setting, but when it trips out the humidity near instantly rises rapidly and significantly, you often start to feel uncomfortable again even though the temp may only have shifted 1 degree up.
I took my domestic portable A/C unit away with me in the caravan on a trip a couple of weeks back, and so grateful I did. Late afternoons and evenings became horrible without it. When the caravan was secured but not entirely closed up when I was out (windows on 'vent' position and roof lights open, both with reflective sun blinds closed), it had reached 40C or more and triggered the overheat (on operating temp range) on my Carbon Monoxide alarm! So much for the white box reflecting heat!!!!!
Opening windows and door had the rather unproductive effect of allowing too hot air to waft through, rather than cooling breezes! A/C was the saviour.
Never thought I'd be the one promoting A/C in the UK, and 30 odd years ago I'd have openly laughed at the notion, but literally considering it a lifesaver now, these temps are making me feel unwell unless I can find relief from them, and I certainly can't sleep with perspiration running off me!
Just back from what is our last camp of the year in North Yorkshire. 32 degrees on Friday, but very pleasant almost Med evening, mid 20s, witn a slight breeze perfect.
Cooler yesterday, but sun was out. Despite signs everywhere along roadsides saying no open fires, BBQs etc a group camped by a hedge and trees across from a field which hadn't been harvested decided it would be a great idea to light a fire.
Thankfully someone with brains told them it wasn't the best idea they had ever had and they did put it out.
Then this morning it actually rained for an hour. Not seen any for weeks and it decides to start at 8am on the day you need to pack up. Tent was stuffed into the back of the car and with no rain at home put back up and is now dry snd packed reqdy for next year. At least we know it doesn't leak.
Apparently there is yet another heatwave on its way towards the end of August/begining of September 2026!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 16/8/2026
Apparently there is yet another heatwave on its way towards the end of August/begining of September 2026!
DK
Two weeks from mid September, especially in Scotland, would do me nicely!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 16/8/2026
Apparently there is yet another heatwave on its way towards the end of August/begining of September 2026!
DK
Two weeks from mid September, especially in Scotland, would do me nicely!
Not uncommon up here in September. This coming week, however, weather reports say some places will be down to single figures overnight.
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 16/8/2026
Apparently there is yet another heatwave on its way towards the end of August/begining of September 2026!
DK
Two weeks from mid September, especially in Scotland, would do me nicely!
Not uncommon up here in September. This coming week, however, weather reports say some places will be down to single figures overnight.
I pack my van with layers and waterproofs throughout the year in case I need them, including a pair of treggings, a long sleeve flannel shirt and a pair of SealSkinz waterproof socks!
I needed to wear a gilet one evening when I was camping at the Norfolk coast one evening last week as it was quite breezy with a nip in the air.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 16/8/2026
Apparently there is yet another heatwave on its way towards the end of August/begining of September 2026!
DK
Bugger! Looks like I may need to pack the portable A/C in the caravan again for my early Sept trip to Lincolnshire. Thought I may not need it again in the caravan this year! Not the end of the world, but just a bit of extra kit to take.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Night of the Big Heat!
via mobile 14/8/2026 at 12:10pm
