Stormy Weather II

[Serial_Apologist]

There’s been a dusty stillness to the sunniest parts of this week that’s been quite magical.

A dusty spring field... or two.

[muzzer]

What have we, what have we...?

[BBMmk2]

Some sun today but I think it’s going to be mainly overcast. Max 16C.

[oddoneout]

Complete cloud cover, no sun. Sadly the promising dark grey cloud band is moving smartly NE without delivering, although the BBC weather area reckons they are likely to get rain there(15 miles from here as the cloud flies). The brisk wind is set to keep the temperatures down to a more manageable level, but of course it will be drying out the plants even more, and the newly planted bean seedlings, with their big leaves, don't appreciate the buffeting.

[DracoM]

Wind a sight brisker than brisk up here!
Fear for my tree lilies justified! Weighted down tub crashed over - no point in lifting it until wind abates.

[Joseph K]

Very windy. Intermittent sun/cloud.

[gurnemanz]

Very windy. Intermittent sun/cloud.

Good for drying washing. Quick repair needed as clothes line snapped.

[Serial_Apologist]

Good for drying washing. Quick repair needed as clothes line snapped.

That seems to be my job here, on behalf of myself and the 14 other households scrambling to grab the sunniest lines in the drying area. During the hot weather I came across the 9 and 11 year-olds from one flat swinging on two of the lines I'd repaired! On pointing out that the lines weren't strong enough to take that sort of treatment, the mother said, "I know; but isn't it nice to see the little ones outside enjoying themselves!"

[Serial_Apologist]

This morning's cold front produced no more than 15 minutes' worth of spotting rain - not even suffient to wet the ground, but enough to produce that overpoweringly pungent smell that I personally love, when the first rain after hot weather hits the dust: a scent that in India, when the Monsoon rains break, is said to be astringent enough to melt nasal passages!

I had cycled over to the neighbourhood Sainsbury's for the week's main food provisions, joining what I had supposed to be the regular old grumpies' queue at 7.30 for the 8 o'clock opening, but with only four in front of me and one behind the old guy in the yellow jacket chose to let every one of us, key workers and "vulnerables", in at ten to eight. As a result I was home by 8.10. Normally I don't rise until 9 am, so this afforded me an opportunity to disinfect the groceries and my bike and keys, wash my hands and face, undertake a 5 mile cycle ride, dead-head the roses in our garden and that of the nonagenarian lady across the street, and take the watering can to all the outside potted plants, before sitting down to breakfast.

I then slept for most of the rest of the morning!

[vinteuil]

This morning's cold front produced no more than 15 minutes' worth of spotting rain - not even suffient to wet the ground, but enough to produce that overpoweringly pungent smell that I personally love, when the first rain after hot weather hits the dust...

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrichor

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosmin

.

[Serial_Apologist]

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrichor

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosmin

.

Interesting - thanks! You'da thought someone who has had a lifelong interest in weather phenomena would have heard of petrichor!

[DracoM]

Wind up here remains well more than wild. Trees, bushes, thrashing helplessly.

[ardcarp]

Interesting - thanks! You'da thought someone who has had a lifelong interest in weather phenomena would have heard of petrichor!

And Geosmin is new to me. I wonder if, in addition to giving the 'earthy' taste to beetroots, it also occurs in some spinach and chard leaves? I often think they're earthy too.

Am I off topic...again?

[oddoneout]

Wind up here remains well more than wild. Trees, bushes, thrashing helplessly.

Gusts peaking here at more than 40mph this afternoon. One growhouse(fortunately empty) blown over, the other walking its way to freedom from its slot wedged between to sets of shelves, so both have now had their covers taken off - good thing the nights aren't due to be cold. Some pots were blown off the shelves and the trays of tomatoes on the path had been thoroughly dried out and blown on their sides. Trying to do some work in the garden making a new enclosure to tidy up a heap of shredded conifer everything kept blowing over or away unless held down with something hefty. The wind looks set to stay strong which really isn't good with so much tender young growth around and the lack of moisture. The amount of dust getting blown around is most unpleasant to the eyes, and because my road is unmade grit gets blown in through the windows as well.

[Serial_Apologist]

Gusts peaking here at more than 40mph this afternoon. One growhouse(fortunately empty) blown over, the other walking its way to freedom from its slot wedged between to sets of shelves, so both have now had their covers taken off - good thing the nights aren't due to be cold. Some pots were blown off the shelves and the trays of tomatoes on the path had been thoroughly dried out and blown on their sides. Trying to do some work in the garden making a new enclosure to tidy up a heap of shredded conifer everything kept blowing over or away unless held down with something hefty. The wind looks set to stay strong which really isn't good with so much tender young growth around and the lack of moisture. The amount of dust getting blown around is most unpleasant to the eyes, and because my road is unmade grit gets blown in through the windows as well.

Yes, I had a taste of that (literally) on my ride this morning along the South Circular, from a sudden unexpected gust.