Will the super El Niño affect Europe travel?

[Pauline]

I’ve really become British because I am fixated on weather! I just barely got thru the summer heatwaves and am now worried about the upcoming winter weather. I read there were over 35,000 excess deaths in Europe this summer. That is shocking.

But what does this winter hold for us? I live in southwest England, so assume it will be another very wet winter. I think I’m just going to hunker in at home this winter. The UK government has even suggested we prepare for possible electric outages.

I read that next summer will be very hot again. I’m on a waiting list for a portable air conditioner and I hate air conditioning! In all our years living in Canada and the US we never had air conditioning.

How is everyone feeling about this?

 

[sam_spruce]

I’ve really become British because I am fixated on weather! I just barely got thru the summer heatwaves and am now worried about the upcoming winter weather. I read there were over 35,000 excess deaths in Europe this summer. That is shocking.

But what does this winter hold for us? I live in southwest England, so assume it will be another very wet winter. I think I’m just going to hunker in at home this winter. The UK government has even suggested we prepare for possible electric outages.

I read that next summer will be very hot again. I’m on a waiting list for a portable air conditioner and I hate air conditioning! In all our years living in Canada and the US we never had air conditioning.

How is everyone feeling about this?

The outage warning would make me more nervous than the rain. A portable AC is starting to sound less like a luxury and more like basic summer kit.

 

[Georgia & Zig]

I’ve really become British because I am fixated on weather! I just barely got thru the summer heatwaves and am now worried about the upcoming winter weather. I read there were over 35,000 excess deaths in Europe this summer. That is shocking.

But what does this winter hold for us? I live in southwest England, so assume it will be another very wet winter. I think I’m just going to hunker in at home this winter. The UK government has even suggested we prepare for possible electric outages.

I read that next summer will be very hot again. I’m on a waiting list for a portable air conditioner and I hate air conditioning! In all our years living in Canada and the US we never had air conditioning.

How is everyone feeling about this?

I recommend getting an air conditioner. The older we get, the more the hot weather affects us. We live in Kentucky and are very thankful we have it.

 

[NoSpin]

Pauline I'll answer your question about feeling about this, but first you have to answer my question. What do you mean about "I’m on a waiting list for a portable air conditioner"? You can't just go to the local hardware store and pick one up?

 

[Pauline]

Everyone was sold out at the end of this hot summer.

 

[NoSpin]

Ah, OK a shortage, I was wondering if maybe you had to have some kind of permit from the government.

Well as far as feeling about it, it sure does seem that the weather is getting more violent and there is not much we can do about it. Here in the east coast of the US many homes are built right on the edge of the ocean. They are slowly sliding into the sea. People want the government to do something. You can only stop these forces for so long and then Mother Nature will eventually win over.

Coincidently this story just popped up on my news feed -

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-snow-polar-vortex-autumn-met-office-b3056375.html

 

[Pauline]

From that article:
“Freezing temperatures and unsettled conditions could sweep the UK as the El Niño weather phenomenon continues to wreak havoc on global weather.

Experts are predicting a wet and stormy autumn that could develop into an icy winter after the “super El Niño” smashed global benchmarks to become the strongest event in history.”

Now I’m worried about being cold!

I probably could get a cheap air conditioner locally but I wanted a specific one recommended in The Guardian. Dyson ran out of fans this summer!

 

[Shyguy]

I wouldn’t plan around El Niño alone. Weather can vary a lot across the UK, so keeping travel dates flexible and checking forecasts closer to the time is probably the best approach.

 

[Ronit Kapoor]

I'm feeling cautiously prepared rather than too worried, weather can be unpredictable, so keeping the home warm and having a backup plan for outages seems sensible.

After that summer, though, I completely understand wanting to hunker down and hope for a gentler winter and cooler next summer!