That is definetely it, DM. Walking back from the shop there, there is definetly a cumulus like plume over where the fire is located before it spreads out to the east. Looking at the sat, the fire seems to be around 20 miles NNE from here and 6 miles east of Knock (village) 

Sorry for bad, overexposed photo but taken from my bathroom window showing smoke. 

That must be quite a substantial fire.

I am wondering if it is some sort of 'controlled burn'? but that would be a bit mad to do in the super dry, low humidity conditions at the moment. 

Sadly though, there are some crazy people around these days (although the vast majority of people are usually much more sensible and not anything like that), so I wouldn't actually rule out that sort of thing from actually happening.

I do know that people like to enjoy the outdoors when it's warm and sunny but they tend to forget that in these tinder dry conditions which are around just now, it could easily just take one person to drop a burning cigarette somewhere for that to then possibly trigger off a major wildfire in that area.

Yes  - that's him! 🤣🤣🤣👍

ECMHR looks like the wettest with 70-80mm widely accumulated over the next two weeks in the west of Britain, 40-50mm in the east.

But GEFS looks like half of that and MOGREPS somewhere between the two.

So there's a bit of wait-and-see in there.

Even as far West Midlands had been cold and dull lately after a good warm sunny first part of May until last week started to go wrong with rating this month dropped to 2 /10 and likely finish at 0/10 if no improvement while it was 10/10 for March and April.   Isn’t the NW flow good for you in the east? Thought you will see more sunshine and warmer temps to average levels in your area?  NW flow bring more sunshine regardless the temps than from the east so can’t wait for it. 

That very much depends on where you are! I'm not sure you in the West Mids would see much of a difference.

As long as it doesn't outstay its welcome though...

Having had an exceptionally dry and sunny spring, today was the transition and we're straight into summer down here - temperatures in the 20s most days, abundant sunshine and increasingly humid as the week goes on. At least there'll be a breeze for once, and there's some interest tomorrow in that we might see very low dewpoints: the MetO raw has 21C and 21% RH IMBY, which is a dewpoint of -2. That's very unusual in a broad westerly flow!

My guess is the soil is dry down to at least a foot (if it's 'normal' for the area, not been watered). Without getting at least the missing rain amount this spring soil moisture wont recover until at least late autumn.

I'm watering the veg garden twice a week. But it's simply not the same as rain - transpiration is so high in these warmed, super sunny times.

 I remember digging a hole in a field here in September (after an unremarkable summer) and finding dust for at least two feet down. I'd give digging a hole a try - it can be a revelation..

( You'll have to look  it up for yourself -,I have problems distinguishing the colours)

It already outstayed it welcome as not brought back sunny weather after the poxy drizzle yesterday night and this morning not forecast outbreaks of rain which meant to be dry with decent sunny spells to periods and windy. Seeing no recovery quick enough like the short unsettled blip over Easter will give May 0/10 sadly.  Was 10/10 but plunged down fast since the easterly attack and overcast skies occurred.  The bank holiday curse had now destroyed what left of settled weather for 2025 so far. If we not have a bank holiday then today would continue to be settled with short unsettled spells.   Now my main interest is to see June dry sunny heatwave to occur and try to break this hottest June record which was embarrassing since 1976 was not a global warming that time. With this GW we should see a record to break sooner than later. 

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 

Sorry but it has to be my most hated saying! Makes my blood boil 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Yes, up there with Darren Bett's "At least it will be mild"

Looks like the soggy start to June as well.  Be careful what you wish for! Perhaps that dry sunny spring was our summer!

Hopefully we will have enough rain but not too much. It would be very nice to have a long sunny summer but after a dry spring it would be problematic if we didn’t have at least some spells of more unsettled conditions.

"Small talk" seldom stretches the intellect - but it should not cause you to go into a rage. They might have gone on to say "Have a nice day" and you'd have risked apoplexy! Deep breaths. Relax.... 🤣🤣🤣

On the one hand, we do need some level of rain to keep nature alive. That is a simple fact. That said, I do also agree with you. It's annoying when you see forecasters or the Joe public wishing for rain after a few dry weeks and then we end up being plunged into a three month washout spell. It happens way too often, and I hope that's not what's happening now.

A week or so of unsettled weather and then back to the previous month's glorious weather will suit me fine.

Part of life of course round here but still irritating. 

Maybe if the water companies that are losing around 3 billions litres of drinking water a day got their act together, enough water would be available for crops and everyone’s gardens 😉

(By the way, the rage only lasted 2 minutes)