The city of Bristol, with its iconic suspension bridge, its vibrant harbourside, and its famously independent spirit, is not a place that normally trades on its reliably sunny climate. It is a city that has learned to embrace the drizzle and make the best of a cloudy day. So, when the Met Office forecast that the mercury was set to rise to a balmy 22 degrees Celsius, the city’s residents reacted with a mixture of disbelief and unbridled enthusiasm. The south-west is basking in what forecasters are calling an “unusual” spell of warmth, a brief but glorious interlude before the chill returns.<\/p>\n
The images from Bristol tell the story of a city making the most of its moment in the sun. The grassy banks of the harbourside, usually populated by a hardy few, were thronged with sunbathers and picnickers. The cafes and bars along the waterfront did a roaring trade, their outdoor seating areas spilling over with customers eager to soak up the atmosphere and the vitamin D. In the city’s many parks, from the sweeping expanse of the Downs to the more intimate Victoria Park, the scene was one of communal joy. Frisbees flew, children paddled in fountains, and the air was filled with the scent of sun cream and cut grass.<\/p>\n
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The 22-degree high is a notable figure for this time of year, significantly above the seasonal average. It is the kind of temperature that tricks the mind into believing that summer has arrived early, that the long, dark winter is finally a distant memory. But, as any seasoned Bristolian will tell you, the British weather is not to be trusted. The forecasters are at pains to point out that this is a “mini-heatwave” with a very definite shelf life. The warm air mass that has settled over the south-west is not a permanent feature. By the weekend, the temperatures are expected to take a sharp tumble, dropping back down to the more familiar territory of the low teens, accompanied, no doubt, by a fresh breeze and a smattering of cloud.<\/p>\n
This knowledge, far from dampening spirits, seems to have heightened the appreciation of the moment. Bristol is seizing the day with both hands. It is a city that knows how to enjoy itself, and a burst of unexpected sunshine is the perfect excuse for a party. The 22-degree interlude will be short, but it will be sweet. It will provide a stock of warm memories to draw upon when the inevitable chill returns. For a few glorious days, Bristol has shed its raincoat and put on its sunglasses. It is a welcome, if fleeting, transformation. The city will soon revert to its default setting of cool and damp, but for now, it is basking in a glorious, golden, and thoroughly unusual glow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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