28th July - Today's News: UK Heatwave Dramatically Ends (For Now)

Another date record yesterday with 34.7c recorded at Tibbenham, but not quite the July record that had been predicted.  But the heatwave comes to an end, for now, as finally... it's raining! Britons breathe sigh of relief as colossal storms bring 97F heatwave to dramatic climax.  Of course, no storms for Evesham.  But we did have 1mm of rain this morning with more to come over the weekend.   Before the heat starts building again next week. 

The rain came none to soon as wildfires ravage UK in Furnace Friday heat and homes set ablaze as 90,000 lightning bolts strike country

Lightning strikes cause rail chaos across East Coast whilst one (un)lucky mother's iPhone hit by lightning as she films summer storm and Hunstanton lighthouse damaged after getting struck by lightning

In the Netherlands, Thursday was the warmest night on record as the heatwave continues

And scientists suggest that climate change driven by humans made heatwave 'twice as likely' - but that does NOT mean anyone is saying AGW caused the heatwave.   Just that such events are becoming more common.

California blaze kills second firefighter as winds create fire 'tornado' and in Canada, an Alberta firefighter dies fighting Ontario forest fires

The mystery deepens as a new video shows scale of darkness when day turned to night - and gulls died - in Yakutia.   However, the "mundane" explanation: a slow moving plume of smoke and ash from distant forest fires seems most likely. 

Monsoon rains kill 37 in India, as buildings collapse and streets flood

Typhoon Jongdari: Weather-ravaged Japan braces for powerful storm

And millions around the globe enjoy spectacular Blood Moon: Crimson lunar eclipse lasts 104 minutes making it longest this century - but for most of the UK (incluing Evesham) cloud got in the way.  Still, I have seen plenty of lunar eclipses.  Now, a big thunderstorm with marble-sized hail?  That would be something special!