Stormy Weather II

[oddoneout]

As forecast the temperature has gone up considerably, noticeable when out and about. What has also happened, partly due to a stiff breeze, is that indoor temperatures feel to have have dropped due to the accompanying dampness, not helped by lack of sun.

[Serial_Apologist]

Lying abed just after 7 this morning waiting for coffee, a tremendous clap of thunder accompanied by a near instantaneous flash of lightening struck. We are quite used to storms here in the Wye Valley - usually rolling in from the west across the Welsh border two miles away - but this gave absolutely no warning, just one clap, and an intense downpour...for about one minute! Electricity off (main trip gone) Internet off, water off (we're on our own pump up here - it trips for a pastime!).....back to 'normal' now, but a rude awakening!

Looking at the rain patterns at that time, a narrow straight line of heavy rain was aligned SSW/NNE right across your area. It would have been described as "line convection" at the point where cold air from the south west was slicing into the southerly winds just to the east (of the surface cold front). Thunder is not uncommon at such air mass junctions even in winter; and it would be very difficult to predict from ground-based observations, with the parent cloud (probably at about 6000 feet above sea level) obscured at lower levels (at around 1000 ft ASL) by ragged stratus " clag". Such has been the case here this afternoon as the same front has slowly edged eastwards, catching me on my cycle journey home from the mini Tescos a mile down the road with a burst of moderate rain, the only advance clue being a general darkening of the sky. A strengthening breeze has not made today's 12 degree celsius maximum feel as mild as one anticipated following so many days with sub-average temperatures.

[Roger Webb]

Looking at the rain patterns at that time, a narrow straight line of heavy rain was aligned SSW/NNE right across your area. It would have been described as "line convection" at the point where cold air from the south west was slicing into the southerly winds just to the east (of the surface cold front). Thunder is not uncommon at such air mass junctions even in winter; and it would be very difficult to predict from ground-based observations, with the parent cloud (probably at about 6000 feet above sea level) obscured at lower levels (at around 1000 ft ASL) by ragged stratus " clag". Such has been the case here this afternoon as the same front has slowly edged eastwards, catching me on my cycle journey home from the mini Tescos a mile down the road with a burst of moderate rain, the only advance clue being a general darkening of the sky. A strengthening breeze has not made today's 12 degree celsius maximum feel as mild as one anticipated following so many days with sub-average temperatures.

Thanks for your meteorological analysis SA..............mine is that it was bloody loud!

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for your meteorological analysis SA..............mine is that it was bloody loud!

You're welcome, Roger - as everybody seems to say these days... around here, at any rate.