Deluxe

Heavy shower blew through here about 15-20 minutes ago. Some nice structure as it approached, no thunder to speak of though

Showers starting to get going to the west and south-west of here. Hopefully by the time they reach the NE they'll have a bit of electrical bite to them!

Heavy showers north and south of here at the moment, but no sferics currently, unlike the ones in Northern Scotland!

A couple of very heavy blustery showers have already rattled through here this morning. More to come during the next few hours I think

Yep we got struck by the southern edge of that very same line, and skies did indeed look as volatile as those last three brilliant pics. Cheers for posting them

Yeah that area was rotating erratically as it passed over. Very eerie beginning to the storm, the rain didn't start for a while and the thunder was muffled and very infrequent at first, all we had were the low, dark rotating cloud bases at first! Quite scary actually It actually got a lot brighter when the rain and thunder came

That might be asking too much yes, but you're right about our storm (I'm a little further north in Billingham, currently) - the clouds were going crazy as the storm approached - definitely rotation going on - check out my photos in this thread - did the skies look similar? I appreciate my mobile camera doesn't do it justice!

and a few upgrades nearer the time, we don't usually see that!

lol. Still very cloudy here!

A couple of photos from this evenings storm (I'm sure we just had another distant rumble just now!)

I might have complained prematurely earlier, but I'll make an excuse and say it was all reverse psychology. All part of the plan Now excuse me whilst I put some humble pie in the oven, I'm starving

Take plenty of water, as much as you can carry!

Gosh the Newcastle-south storms really intensified from 18:15 to 18:30 on the radar! No wonder the rainfall rates were so biblical!

Shotgun crack of thunder again. What a strange storm!

Phenomenal rainfall rates here, with some hail mixed in. Got some footage and a couple of photos. Suddenly it's eased off but that was an impressive storm. You could tell it was on the severe side. I expect it'll pass completely in the next few minutes, thunder still rumbling but rain back to moderate. Well worth waiting for! Loud crack of thunder just now! The regularity of the thunder and lightening has gone through fits and starts, sometimes just one rumble a minute if that, and other times, like now, a couple of strikes per 10 seconds or so

Thunder a bit more frequent and getting closer Very abrupt though - what's up wit dat?

Ok glad I had a wander out for a better view! Very occasional thunder, nothing to write home about, not seen any lightning, but the skies - WOW! Got plenty of pictures - they look apocalyptic - some rotation as well, although no lowerings to speak of. WInd has gotten up and it is incredibly oppressive. I'm going to upload the photos now edit: I'll upload them later, I'll enjoy this storm first. Thunder not frequent, but very strange and muffled when it does.

Cell getting closer now, going to go out for a better view of it Back soon!

Can see the cumulonimbus easily now - and blimey is it oppressive out there! Really could do with a storm rattling through! I shall be listening out for thunder over the coming hour, hoping the storms stay electrical as they pass over!!

Cmon! Just hold it together for one more hour. Please!

not my video, but a great one I found on youtube of the storm in Newcastle. The thunder is awesome! Also general pictures of the storms around Leicester collected here, conveniently http://storify.com/thisisleics/storms-hit-leicester-and-leicestershire-2 Here - the sun is out!

I'm pinning my hopes on the southern end of the line of storms clipping here during the next hour or two. It's going to be a close one! A bit more of an easterly movement would ease my nerves greatly!

Jesus wept those cells to the west and southwest are taking ages to get here (or so it seems!). Hope they reach here still electrified! Newcastle storms sound fun!

That's our last hope I'm off to buy some more straws to clutch...

Newcastle looks likely to cop it soon. Patience required further south here, but I'll be happy with a few flashes and bangs, nothing special