Mikel Nimbus

I'm normally very sceptical when it comes to these sort of things and this cell doesn't look anything out of the ordinary but I swear to god I saw some rotation on its leading edge, the likes of which I've only seen when chasing out in the states. No funnel cloud or anything but definite roation in the rising air near the condensation level/cloud base. I'm guessing it could just be something caused by the gust front but it looked great nonetheless. Headed over central London and behind buildings too soon.

Can there be a feature that makes it easy to browse charts? Something where you can simply swipe left or right to move forward or back 6 hours. Reading charts on mobile devices are a pain in the 'arris. Have been planning to build something myself but would like to see it in a NW app.

135.1mm. We are 9mm off the 144mm monthly record(November 2009) since I started collecting data in 2004. I think we'll get close to that with the front coming up from France tomorrow night but will just fall short of breaking it as midnight chimes and May begins.

Since it started raining here yesterday afternoon we've clocked up 32.8mm. It finally looks like its giving the south east its last push before moving north west.

Up to 110.7mm in this part of London. If this front carries on at its current rate we may have a chance of breaking the last highest recorded month, August 2010 which saw 120.9mm.

We all know how fallible long range forecasts are, even those which come from the experts. What output have you seen that suggests we're going to have the prolonged, above average rainfall needed this summer, or is this just a gut feeling you have? You're saying we shouldn't have a hosepipe ban because you think we will all get sufficient rain? What happens if, like during the last 18+ months, we don't and then the water supplies become dangerously low? We'd be thinking "wouldn't it be handy if we had saved some extra water". Taking a chance with such a valuable resource as water in the way you suggest is reckless to say the least.

Some great pictures out there. Looks like it's been an active day! NW London Storm shields are working perfectly you'll be pleased to hear. Not a single drop of rain yet.

Good luck everyone. I've entered it but like a donut was distracted while typing and fluffed up one of the (easy) questions. Can I resubmit?

London clay is notorious for causing subsidence during dry weather and for some reason this area of London always suffers badly. There are a few cracks in the wall in my room which have grown bigger and bigger over the last year. It has also caused the roof to leak in one place and the garden pathway to crack. I don't know how it works exactly, but I'm hoping that when it does rain the clay will expand again and everything will click back into place. :unsure: As for rainfall, we measured 485.2mm 1st March 2011 - 29th Feb 2012. I really don't want a washout summer, but we are probably going to need it if things are to get back to normal.

I found an amazing little frost hollow in Hertfordshire last night. I got a reading of -15 on my car and that was while the engine was hot so it could have been lower! I was curious so I got outside the car and could instantly feel the snot in my nose begin to freeze. Can honestly say I've never felt so cold in my life. As for tonight -2.2 atm after top temp today of 0.2.

A good 4-5 cms here tonight. Very decent for this area and settling on top of 14cm we got last sturday (some of which has melted). Temperature has been falling away here over the last hour down to -0.3.

Some greens building up on the radar west of London. We aren't really going to reach 15cm are we????

I've only ever seen one bigger snowfall and that was feb 09 Thames streamer event.

Just scraping 13cm now. My telephone line is caked in snow and looks like it wants to snap. :unsure:

12cm and still lashing it down. Incredible!

Yep, make the most of it. Not often (if ever) we can say we are in a sweet spot for snow.

9.5cm with temp at -0.1 and DP -0.6. Half a cm more and I'll be happy.

Was just looking at the NMM when Kold posted that very accurate description of the precip. So far, the model has done very well tonight. It looks like this area has seen the worst of what we are going to get and it's all eyes east now. Between 12-2am Essex should see the band reinvigorate then the heavier stuff moves south towards Sussex afterwards clipping into Kent at arounf 4-5am.

I promise you this is no exaggeration. Just measured it again to make sure and it is definitely over 8cm.

Looks like this flight was buzzing around Luton to land then said "sod it, let's go home" http://yfrog.com/oegvyhp

100m elevation helps as does the front reaching here hours earlier than expected then slowing to a halt. I hope it peps up again when it moves through for you Essexers.

Temp -0.6, DP -1.3 and 8.5cm of snow and still coming down!

Already a centimetre here and we weren't meant to be getting anything until 10pm according to ths morning's charts. Temperature keeps falling despite the front getting closer! -1 now. I agree with Paul, for an Atlantic weather system this really is unusual.

Heard the second half of that. Sounds like you collapsed right at the end. Still reckon yourselves and Swindon are going up automatically. Anyway, snow will make everything better.

Temperature has been falling steadily here all afternoon down to 0.2 dp -2.7! Should start seeing small flakes within 45 mins around N/NW London.