Kiwi

Yes - a good spot is on the B3051, at the top of White hill, just a couple of miles south of Kingsclere. Layby one side of the road and White Hill car park on the opposite side.

Heard a couple of rumbles of thunder a few minutes ago....about 5 miles north of Basingstoke.

1st heavy shower here in northern Hampshire. Big heavy drops but no rumblings....yet.

Starting to feel hot and humid here in northernmost Hampshire. Clouds building and it "feels" like a storm is brewing.

But surely that means it'd be illegal to drive in a red area??.....no insurance means you're breaking the law

I love a bonus!! .....especially one like this

Inland in North Hampshire ....and sheltered, but family have just commented on how wind has increased in last half hour and blowing a real hoolie here.

Tantalisingly close. M4 between junctions 13 and 14 (Chieveley and Hungerford) has snow. https://www.motorwaycameras.co.uk/england/m4/westbound/traffic-camera/903

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ 000 WTNT32 KNHC 122036 TCPAT2 BULLETIN Hurricane Ophelia Advisory Number 15 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL172017 500 PM AST Thu Oct 12 2017 ...OPHELIA BARELY MOVING BUT CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN... SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...30.4N 35.5W ABOUT 715 MI...1150 KM SW OF THE AZORES MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...100 MPH...155 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...STATIONARY MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...973 MB...28.74 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Interests in the Azores should refer to products issued by the Azores Weather Forecast and Watch Center. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Ophelia was located near latitude 30.4 North, longitude 35.5 West. Ophelia is currently meandering, but a east-northeast motion is expected to begin tonight. A east-northeast motion is forecast to continue after that with a substantial increase in forward speed by this weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Ophelia will remain south of the Azores through Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, but Ophelia is expected to remain a hurricane for the next couple of days. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 973 mb (28.74 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- RAINFALL: Ophelia is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches over Santa Maria Island of the Azores Saturday and Saturday night. During the same time, a cold front and moisture associated with Ophelia is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches over the other islands of the Azores. This rainfall could produce flooding, especially over Santa Maria Island. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next complete advisory at 1100 PM AST. $$ Forecaster Zelinsky

Eye of Maria should now be clearing north coast of Puerto Rico. Images from 1.15pm UK time shows eye on western fringes of San Juan (on north coast of island).

Satellite image from 12.45 UK time. Indistinct eye just to SSW of San Juan

St Croix, One of the US Virgin Islands and Vieques, part of Puerto Rico

Maria currently on track to hit the most densely populated eastern end of Puerto Rico with more than 1 million living on this corner of the island. Unfortunately this path might also mean less reduction in the strength of the hurricane from the mountainous central areas populations; San Juan 390,000 Bayamon 206,000 Caguas 142,000 etc

Nightmare scenario for all of those so badly affected by Irma is that Maria will track along the northern most boundary of the forecast cone. This would threaten Antigua, Saint Martin , BVI etc. All those attempting to slowly piece their lives back together would be hit again. Here is an extract from an email I received from friends in Tortola, BVI that gives some small insight into the struggle they're having .........without another hurricane making an appearance; We have been challenged by the weather the last few days. With some serious rainfall culminating in 2 flash floods this week. More on that later.Staying here will be dependent upon us making the house water tight and getting power. We currently have a lead to our neighbours house for the fridge. They are putting their generator on a couple of times a day. Phones etc we are charging by solar. Transport is a little tricky as our road is blocked, but we can get to a cleared road via the neighbours, and then get out that way X was able to find some tarpaulin and secured the bedroom area so that just left half of the rest of the roof. It made a huge difference when it rained. But we have to keep pumping and mopping out. The water ingress in to the lower 2 rooms is manageable so we are not overly concerned about downstairs. So to weather. Since Irma, Jose passed us with wind but little else thankfully but since then we have had a fair bit of rain. The flash flood on Friday was atrocious. The rain was torrential and unfortunately the infrastructure cannot cope as all drains etc. are already broken or blocked. I was already in Road Town for comms and was to attend a staff meeting. But it became very unsafe to move around. The work meeting became impossible due to the rain. The waters rose so quickly. Having sheltered a colleague and driven up a hill to avoid the flooding. Once the rain subsided I headed home to help X mop out the house (again). For those whose homes are blown wide open the rain must feel like hell again. It's been over a week and no sign of any distribution of tarps to the most in need.

Looks like the eye will make a direct hit on Key West in the next 2 to 3 hours. https://weather.com/weather/radar/interactive/l/USFL0244:1:US

If the eye remains just offshore does this mean that Irma is likely to maintain her strength all the way up the coast? Particularly bad news for the Tampa Bay area I'd have thought.

2:00 AM EDT Sun Sep 10 ie 7am uk timeLocation: 23.7°N 81.3°WMoving: NW at 6 mphMin pressure: 931 mbMax sustained: 130 mph Heading NW away from Cuba now, towards Key West and west coast of Florida. NHC now predict hugging the west coast all the way up Florida towards Tallahasse http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/034247.shtml?gm_track#contents

Where is he on Tortola?......we have friends in West End, no news from there either...but news of damage sustained in various areas via facebook video footage here https://www.facebook.com/lerose.charles

I know they're built to last....but that can't be good can it. I see that Turkey Point already has form ....http://allthingsnuclear.org/dlochbaum/fission-stories-48-hurricane-andrew-vs-turkey-point

Really concerned seeing the damage to these solid modern buildings in, relatively sheltered, low lying Road Town. Our friends are about 5 miles from here near the top of a hill called Pelican Peak....stunning views, but very horribly exposed. Last heard from them 8 hours ago ...they'd lost power but were battened down for Irma. Eye now moving away from the island, so hoping that they're ok and will soon be able to start the clear up. PS: they have never had a shed, so at least one less thing for them to worry about!

Can confirm that first two photos are of Road Town, Tortola, BVI. (Out there last year)...can't be sure about 3rd

Soggy Dollar webcam (BVI) not live at the mo ...it's running in a loop and is stuck around 9am local time (over 4 hours ago)

Eye passing over BVI now. Looks like Necker Island (where Richard Branson is sheltering in his wine cellar) stays on the edge of the eyewall ...and will get hit by the NE quadrant (strongest winds?) as the eye passes.

Eye now beginning to move over Virgin Gorda. https://www.wunderground.com/weather-radar/united-states-regional/pr/san-juan

RFA Mounts Bay is in the Caribbean