SimonP

lol Harry, love the textual description for the pink zone!

I don't think so - I guess that's going to be whatever is left from these storms over N. France right now... Actually, looking at satellite imagery, it's looking like they're getting quite close to the French coast.

Is certainly very active over the near continent... The MetO (and BBC forecasts) have been plugging thunderstorms for the south all day, wondering if it'll happen. If so, I wonder what the forcing mechanism will be? Perhaps someone could shed some light as I'm certainly no expert - I note there's a shortwave trough of the SE of Kent on the MetO fax charts for 00Z Sunday...

This is what I've been hoping for (the cold front moving east) but I'm wonering where it is now? It hasn't done anything so far in the south and west, so I'm really skeptical...

I'm going into pessimistic mode now as it seems this CF is doing nothing in terms of storms I'd be interested to know why, purely from a learning standpoint - any of those in the know what to shed some light?

I'm holding out hope courtesy of the cold front moving east behind the trough and the fact the MetO have released the flash warning with the word "thunderstorm" - we all know how cautious they are usually! Fingers crossed...

Looking at http://www.sat24.com/gb the stuff that is hitting NW France looks like it's intensifying quite nicely - next couple of hours could be interesting

Wondering about this stuff that's currently heading into NW France out of Spain... Looks interesting for those in the south over the next couple of hours perhaps?

I love how the MetO have for days been stating thunderstorms will happen in just about all of southern England into the midlands overnight tonight, then lo and behold, they've now changed their text summary today (this afternoon even?) to read: I am absolutely not believing their forecast and am instead rolling with just about every other source that says it *will* happen Going to be an interesting evening of radar watching etc! Good luck to all chasing this event...

Ah, it's all about the potential Still really surprised how things panned out today - it was pretty much overcast all day, with a few breaks in cloud from about 2pm onwards. It was still very hazy but all of a sudden heard thunder at around 3:30pm - temps had just hit ~17C. Sure enough, a fairly decent cell had popped up (still not visible as such - couldn't see the tops or anything, which is why it caught me out - but it was certainly darker looking east!), and the thunder was fairly constant to begin with. When I posted earlier, I reported not being able to see any lightning, only hearing the thunder; maybe due to the haze/visibility, but probably beause it was CC (the thunder wasn't very loud/"rumbly", as you'd expect with CGs), but this situation soon changed. This cell must've initiated in like 20-30 mins, quite impressive. It moved NWwards pretty rapidly - people in MK reporting getting a storm pretty shortly afterwards. I am definitely pleased (it probably shows!) but that's because 1) it's only April and 2) it's really the first decent storm we've seen here since 2009 - and that's saying something as it was only around for about 10 mins!

Cell headed right for us - can't believe just how quickly this thing has developed. Quite continuous thunder but not yet witnessed any lightning - could be C-C as it's very hazy therefore making it tricky to see. Good start!

Ugh, here in the home counties, I still consider us part of the no-storms club (namely because one or two rumbles of thunder and some convective rain doesn't count as a "storm" in my books) so am really hoping Saturday produces... But am not holding out hope - still too many factors that have to be "right" to make it happen, coupled with the fact Beds/Bucks are only just within the forecast area looking at the convective forecast. I'm really hoping to see something decent before the season's over... Totally dismal thus far!

Looks like stuff along the M4 corridor has "exploded" in the past 30 mins or so, heading NEwards... Of interest ...Coupled with the fact it's only 14:30, this afternoon/evening could be pretty interesting...

Interesting.. Thanks Nick. Hoping for a Spanish Plume setup before the end of the summer period... Had quite a poor "season" so far for storms. Looking at Sunday/Monday, it's looking like there'll be a high situated over France with a low out to the west of N.Ireland - any chance of anything? Will that bring anything interesting north over S.England?

Hi folks, First post Just outside of Dunstable here, a fairly hefty cell overhead - dropping lots of heavy rain and thunder heard, but only 3-4 rumbles and no lightning witnessed. Good to see there's still potential seemingly though! Finally, Cyprino that photo is amazing... Will be looking at getting a print for sure -Simon