kar999

And from the same source for 1 August 50 years ago: Express & Star Driest July in Wolverhampton for 20 years Originally published: August 1, 1955 In Wolverhampton's driest July for 20 years, which ended yesterday, only a little over half an inch of rain was recorded. The month's 0.55in failed to lower the record of July 1937, when only 0.37in of rain fell. The dry warm spell, which has lasted since July 4, has been broken only once. There is a drought in Wolverhampton. It is now 15 days since a measurable amount of rain fell. A drought begins officially after 15 days without rain. July is frequently a wet month, as flower show arrangers have known to their cost. The wettest recorded day in Wolverhampton was in July 1927. On the day before the floral fete opened, 3.7in of rain fell and the ducks from the pool in the West Park were found swimming near the bandstand.

No prob Mondy. I think I refered to the storm as last year not autumn 2003. It's old age kicking in for both of us!

Mondy in answer to this question: http://www.net-weather.co.uk/forum/index.p...ndpost&p=400082 Here's something I found to confirm my answer: A fleet of spacecraft dispersed throughout the solar system gave the best picture to date of the effects of blast waves from solar storms as they propagate through the solar system. The "Halloween" solar storms in October-November 2003 were the most powerful ever measured. The storms' effects on Earth were severe enough to cause the rerouting of aircraft, affect satellite operations, and precipitate a power failure in Malmoe, Sweden. Long-distance radio communications were disrupted because of the effects on the ionosphere, and northern lights (aurora borealis) were seen as far south as Florida. No NASA satellites near Earth were severely damaged by the storms. The International Space Station astronauts curtailed some of their activities and took shelter in the Russian-supplied Service Module several times during the storm.

Why do you say that Summer Blizzard? Winter is the best time to visually to see Aurora because there is little or no twilight.

It happens every year. Swarms and swarms of flying ants are on the wing. Started here just a few minutes ago. It must be some combination of temperature, humidity, breeding cycle or whatever. Someone will no doubt explain. Incidently its warm and muggy here with weak sunshine and no real breeze to speak of. I hope I've got plenty of water in my windscreen washer for the journey home.

Updated: 10:15UTC 01 August (6:15 am EDT, 01 August) (spacew) Geomagnetic and Auroral Activity Update A coronal mass ejection (from the recent X1.3 major flare) has arrived, but is not expected to be particularly geoeffective. As a result, only modest enhancements in geomagnetic and high-latitude auroral activity is anticipated. Additional potentially stronger CME's are possible during the next week. Solar Activity Update Region 792 remains capable of producing isolated major solar flares (including possible X-class events). Any energetic events from this region will now likely involve an Earthward-directed coronal mass ejection.

I got that too Mrs M. Currently mild G1 geomagnetic storm in progress.

Colleague at work hearing reports of mini tornado in Mosely Village Birmingham very recently. Possible structural damage with road closures in place. Cant confirm this but his son is in the area and just phoned this through

Raining all day Currently 16c 1005 mb Torrential downpour for 10 minutes half-hour ago. Further heavy rain on its way, extremely dark clouds to South

Let's hope its got some life left in it when it comes around and faces us Mondy. Here's a nice animation of the prominences it's been churning out. (credit : Spaceweather.com Pavol Rapavy of Rimavska Sobota, Slovakia)

Strange.... It worked for me but then in true Blue Peter fashion it was one I'd made earlier! You need to click on the attacment first and it's file size is 380.35k so it wont animate till it's all downloaded. 'Play animations in web pages' may need to be set in 'internet options' in Internet Explorer.

I've just made this animation from SOHO/LASCO images from 04:42 to 10:20 UTC which shows the effects of that M3 flare.

From Spacew.com (11:15 UTC 26 July) Solar Activity Update Old active Region 786 is due to return to the east limb during the next 72 hours. It has (apparently) been responsible for producing numerous strong coronal mass ejections as it transited the far side of the Sun during the last 2 weeks. It marked its departure from the west limb two weeks ago by producing a strong X-class solar flare. M-class and possible major flare activity will be possible as the region nears and crosses into view around the eastern solar limb. There are no clear indications that the region will remain volatile during the next week (during which time it will rotate into a position capable of affecting the Earth). Given that it has apparently remained volatile during the last two weeks, it is reasonable to think that it may have the longevity to remain volatile during the next week or two. A better assessment will be possible after it rotates into view. Solar observers may see periods of strong limb activity as this region rotates into view. Active prominences, loops and surges are all possible. M3 Flare this morning at 0500 UT Jul27 but most likely not earth directed. Let's hope activity holds out for later in the week.

Some interesting articles about that winter in my local press (Express & Star) Midlands hit by blizzard. Originally published: December 8, 1954 First snow of the winter and high winds brought the West Midlands almost blizzard conditions today. Shropshire, Herefordshire and the Welsh border areas were worst hit, but in Staffordshire snow was two inches deep in many places by mid-morning. Worst blizzard for eight years. Originally published: February 24, 1955 Worst blizzard since early in 1947 was still raging in the West Midlands today after a stormy night which piled drifts of up to five feet along many roads. Conditions were reported to be worst in the hill districts of West Shropshire, towards the Welsh border, and on Cannock Chase. Some lower-lying parts suffered almost as badly. Early today the Wolverhampton-Stafford road at Dunston was blocked by drifts between four and five feet deep. Worst weather in May since 1891. Originally published: May 18, 1955 Not since 1891 has the West Midlands had such a day in May as yesterday was. Perplexed officials in the Midlands were faced with the prospect of calling out the snowploughs which had been detached from heavy vehicles and greased down for next winter.

Well spotted OON. Just checked and Severn Trent doing a similar thing on a 41 Gal Butt with all the accessories for £29.95 inc delv. (RRP 65.80) and 330Ltr home composters for just £5! (RRP 39.95)

Aren't hydrangeas the plants that some people put old nails in the soil under them to make the blooms more blue? The rust (ferrous oxide) increasing the acidity of the soil.

Great Pix there! I'm not sure where our butterflies have gone this year. The buddleia bushes are in flower and are normally covered with many species of butterfly from whites through to gatekeepers, red admirals and peacocks. All I saw last weekend were a few whites. Maybe the other species have still to hatch and/or pupate.

It certainly is, but it can also spread fast so it's best grown in a container of some sort.

In my experience some of the supermarket ones do very poorly.

Causing water shortages as well. Never mind hosepipe bans, just turn off the supply! :lol: From the Express and Star: Another scorcher - and water crisis. Originally published: July 14, 1955 As the whole of Britain sweltered in the heat wave once again, Wolverhampton today faced its first water crisis for nearly 15 years. On the tenth day of sun and no rain came this warning: unless the present excess daily demand for water is checked restrictions may have to be imposed from tomorrow night. Similar warnings came from most parts of the West Midlands and there was bad new for the children too - pop supplies are nearing exhaustion. The water restrictions, if imposed, would be the first since a bitter frost in the early years of the war caused widespread fractures in the undertaking's supply system. W'ton water cuts begin tonight Originally published: July 15, 1955 As there has been no break in the hot weather - and as a fine weekend is forecast - large areas of South Staffordshire will be without water from 6pm tonight until 6am tomorrow. Mr BL McMillan, borough water engineer, told the Express & Star today: "Last night we managed to save about 500,000 gallons by reducing the pressure in a number of districts. "We shall be shutting off supplies to as many private houses as possible." The times would be approximate because members of the water department staffs had to go round the supply area operating valves. Not all private houses would be cut off because the department had to maintain water supplies to hospitals and certain industries. Mr McMMillan said the cut would be repeated night by night until the demand for water returned to more normal levels.

That's 11 inches!! I wonder Mr Data, if the whole of the UK had storms/downpours that night.

In my local paper for 50 Years ago today. Originally published: July 18, 1955 Express & Star Lightning struck five houses and killed two cows during the long dry thunderstorm that burst over the town like a firework display last night. No personal injuries were reported. The cows, valuable dairy Shorthorns, were struck at a farm as they sheltered near a hedge. They leaned on a barbed-wire and the lightning ran along the wire. After an hour of picturesque, silent and harmless sheet lightning, the storm developed higher voltage, particularly over north-west Wolverhampton. One resident, whose house was struck, said: "I thought the world had come to an end. "The rooms filled up with soot and chippings. We sat up the rest of the night, scared to go out until the lightning stopped."

An X-Class flare at last but if only it could have been a week ago! Solar activity has suddenly increased with a series of strong explosions from sunspot 786, the latest an X1-class flare at 1055 UT on July 14th. Because the sunspot is near the sun's western limb, none of the blasts was Earth directed. Nevertheless, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) hurled into space by these explosions could deliver glancing blows to Earth's magnetic field as early as tonight and continuing through the weekend, possibly sparking geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers in Canada and northern US states should be alert for auroras.

Just be careful when you water your tomatoes tonight... A Black Country pensioner had a lucky escape when a 100ft mineshaft opened up below his greenhouse as he was watering his tomatoes. Bill Howes, aged 69, said he noticed the plants wobbling as he was tending to them, then noticed that the water was disappearing down a hole which began to get bigger and bigger. "The plants were moving at the bottom and shaking at the top," Mr Howes explained. "Then a hole appeared by my feet and the soil started to disappear down it as it got bigger." http://www.expressandstar.com/articles/new...ticle_77619.php