This weekend and into next week temperatures are expected to reach the high twenties Celsius in southern England. This is certainly warmer than we would expect at this time of year – the average maximum temperature for July in England is 20.9 °C – but does it constitute a heat wave?
How hot is a heat wave?
There’s actually no official definition of a heat wave in the UK. In America, where high temperatures are more likely, the official classification is based on the Heat Index. The Heat Index temperature is a ‘feels-like’ temperature calculated by combining the temperature and relative humidity.
Depending on the local climate, an excessive heat warning is issued when the Heat Index is expected to exceed 105 °- 110 °F (40 °C – 43 °C) for at least two consecutive days.
Australia also has variable definitions depending on the state. In Adelaide, a heat…
View original post 210 more words
Old School Garden 