I took the following shots during a flight from Geneva to London on the morning of Thursday, April 19th – the hottest April day for at least 60 years.
A large anticyclone brought temperatures far above average in many parts of Europe
Weather conditions on the BA CitiFlyer service to London City were virtually cloud free all the way thanks to a large anticyclone stationed almost slap bang over central Europe.
It was hard to stop looking out the window of the Embraer 190 from the moment we started our climb above the shores of Lac Léman, the Jet d’Eau the first landmark to become easily visible.
The rest of the flight offered a procession of chances to ‘guess the place’ as we crossed France, the Channel, and Kent before making our descent as we reached suburban south-east London.
Before take-off the pilot mentioned our final approach would offer a very close up view of The Shard and the event didn’t disappoint. It felt we were only metres above the 1,000ft high pinnacle, the spectacle drawing gasps from passengers sitting behind me; it was very reminiscent of the final approach to the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.
Disembarking brought a further treat as I walked out into the unprecedented April heat, the 29.1C reached that day made it the hottest April day for at least 60 years.
One of the met enclosures at Genève Aéroport with the hills of the Jura in the background.Lac Leman, Geneva, with the Jet d’Eau clearly visibleAs we climbed higher the Portes du Soleil mountains could be seen in the distance with the Mont Blanc Massif beyondLe Gris Nez and Wissant on the coast of Pas de Calais, with the port in the backgroundThe white cliffs of DoverWhitstable, Kent, just to the east of where the UK’s hottest temperature was recorded at FavershamThe Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey with Minster-on-Sea in the backgroundThe mouth of the Medway with the Isle of Grain on the left and Sheerness and Queenborough on the rightThe London Gateway ‘superport’ with Canvey Island just to the right and Southend in the distanceThe port of Tilbury, Essex, on the north bank of the Thames with Gravesend on the other sideThe Queen Elizabeth II bridgeSuburban SE LondonThe 02 / Millennium Dome with Canary Wharf to the leftCanary WharfThe CityRuskin Park, Denmark Hill, with Canary Wharf in the distance
The Shard and London Bridge station. The aircraft is now very low and we feel very close to the building’s 1,000ft high pinnacle. Passengers behind me gasp and I am reminded of the final approach into Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak airportTower Bridge and City HallCanary Wharf again but this time we’re a lot closerThe o2, againThe Emirates Airline / Thames cable car
Wanstead Meteo 