Stormy Weather II

[HighlandDougie]

Sorry to hear that HD - sounds bad - are you OK and have you suffered any personal damage and loss?

Cloughie

Thanks for asking. Amazingly, given the strength of the wind and the torrents of water cascading from the sky (positively biblical), one uprooted mimosa tree and that's about it. Down in the valley, though, the damage is almost unfathomable.

[DracoM]

[cloughie]

Cloughie

Thanks for asking. Amazingly, given the strength of the wind and the torrents of water cascading from the sky (positively biblical), one uprooted mimosa tree and that's about it. Down in the valley, though, the damage is almost unfathomable.

The weather in southern France can be vicious. In June 1992 stayed near Vaison-la-Romaine - in September of the same year I could not believe what I saw on the news of the havoc caused by flash floods, with people killed in the supermarket we had used, and vehicles and buildings washed away.

[Serial_Apologist]

The weather in southern France can be vicious. In June 1992 stayed near Vaison-la-Romaine - in September of the same year I could not believe what I saw on the news of the havoc caused by flash floods, with people killed in the supermarket we had used, and vehicles and buildings washed away.

The temperature differential between a still very warm Mediterranean zone and much colder air breaking in from the NW always becomes particularly accentuated at this time of the year, as northern Europe cools, and is then further exacerbated by increases in volumes of rainfall occasioned by orographic uplift, as cold fronts hit the Alps region, and sometimes catastrophic floods, as the gathering outflow, confined to the narrow valleys, releases with particular force. All these characteristics have, naturally, been compounded by global warming.

[HighlandDougie]

The temperature differential between a still very warm Mediterranean zone and much colder air breaking in from the NW always becomes particularly accentuated at this time of the year, as northern Europe cools, and is then further exacerbated by increases in volumes of rainfall occasioned by orographic uplift, as cold fronts hit the Alps region, and sometimes catastrophic floods, as the gathering outflow, confined to the narrow valleys, releases with particular force. All these characteristics have, naturally, been compounded by global warming.

Now I understand - that makes complete sense in terms of how the storm unfolded

[Serial_Apologist]

Just now back from a 4+ mile round walk, taking in some of my favourite landmarks, though some of them had to be circumnavigated owing to work on a gas leak, which turned out to be particularly malodorous. Sadly a large triangle of low shrubbery has had to be dug up, leaving unsightly lumps of London clay piled up where bushes & briars had sported berries and moths. One possibly useful bit of news was discovering that the NHS has set up a Covid testing precinct in the car park in the centre of Crystal Palace Park - should I ever be in need of it and not launched off to the other end of the country. Pleasant warmish sunshine with not much breeze, but now high cloud is invading in advance of a warm front expected to bring rain and wind tonight, lasting into tomorrow morning.

Below are some particularly lovely pics sent into the BBC weather dept of altocumulus "mackerel sky" formations over London this morning, so-called because of the similar patternings. You need to be quick because they change these. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/se19

[Joseph K]

Nice pics.

[BBMmk2]

I hope it does clear later!

[oddoneout]

The forecast has changed since last night when I planned out my movements for today so I'll have to do a rethink. There was originally going to be a reasonable period during the morning and early afternoon where rain was unlikely, but now it's 'outbreaks of rain' throughout and coupled with strong winds which of course make the rain much wetter when out in it. I only have a couple of errands that need to be done today rather than wait, but after a heavy bout of volunteer gardening yesterday(we've only been allowed back for 2 mornings a week for about 5 weeks after 6 months of neglect of the site, so you can imagine there's rather a lot to do!) I had intended to do an of hour of 'ambling' in addition to the town errands to help the back and leg muscles. Being tensed against wind and wet is counterproductive so I'll just have to try and remember to keep moving in the house.

[DracoM]

Currently, as good an Autumn day as one could wish.

[oddoneout]

Better than expected on the rain front this morning, being intermittent light drizzle mostly, except for one(thankfully brief) cloudburst just as I'd started walking back from town. Cue drowned rat look on returning home. It could have been worse though, the direction of the strong wind meant I was sheltered from the worst of the wet for much of the walk back, it wasn't cold, and I managed to avoid the far more immediate threat of being drenched by cars going through puddles - at least rain is clean rather than muddy and greasy. It's stayed 'dry' (as in not actually raining) since and the wind is helping to dry things a bit.

[Serial_Apologist]

Better than expected on the rain front this morning, being intermittent light drizzle mostly, except for one(thankfully brief) cloudburst just as I'd started walking back from town. Cue drowned rat look on returning home. It could have been worse though, the direction of the strong wind meant I was sheltered from the worst of the wet for much of the walk back, it wasn't cold, and I managed to avoid the far more immediate threat of being drenched by cars going through puddles - at least rain is clean rather than muddy and greasy. It's stayed 'dry' (as in not actually raining) since and the wind is helping to dry things a bit.

Amounts of rain can vary surprisingly over quite short distances when it comes to cold frontal precipitation. Only this lunchtime, a reporter was standing in rain-swept Fleet Street outside the Law Courts, passers by with umbrellas up, while it was bone dry here, only 7 miles to the south. Ten minutes later, light rain fell here for about five minutes, just about dampening the ground!

[BBMmk2]

Looks as though it could be a good day!

[oddoneout]

A glorious morning at present, but there is something dubious lurking on the top left corner of the map which may hit around midday. Washing duly out now and shopping to be started shortly in case 'showery outbreaks' turn out to be more than a temporary nuisance.

[Joseph K]

Colder here - though that doesn't bother me. At least it's not raining.