Windblade

Stopped for a while and just now its started again, very heavy torrential rain, once again came very suddenly. Dry one minute, torrential the next. Feels a lot cooler today and far less humid. Not sure we're going to see anything today in these parts, but we'll see.

I would've loved to have seen that. I have a particular interest in funnel clouds and tornado's (although I don't like violent ones where people get hurt or lose property etc, that's really awful). I find them fascinating and awe inspiring.

Another shower just popped out of nowhere.

Just had a brief shower here. Was walking and it came out of nowhere. No thunder and lightning around so sheltered under a tree until it had calmed down. Its stopped now. Sun keeps breaking through the clouds briefly every now and then.

So, yesterday was a bust although getting out the car at 3:30pm it looked very dark to the west which came over and we had a huge downpour, big drops. To be honest I'm surprised it didn't trigger a spark or two. We had another downpour later on in the evening before it got dark but no electrical activity or thunder. Driving to work today the temp was showing 18 degrees and I had light drizzle all the way that seems to have stopped now and its getting brighter. In brixton again today. EDIT - As I type the sun has popped out and clouds already bubbling up.

The light rain returns! Can't see anything happening around these parts if this continues.

Looks like there was something around the braintree area but activity seems to have died now.

Ok, its just stopped raining and the sun is trying to come out through the clouds.

Ah man, I feel for you. Hope you get something soon.

Ok, I thought the rain had stopped as looking out the window it looks dry, but I just stepped outside a while ago and its still raining very lightly. Still covered over with cloud too. Feels extremely muggy/humid.

Storms kicking off across germany and the netherlands again. I wish we got their weather, they seem to get loads of powerful storms every single day!

I welcome Gordons posts, I have no issue with him or his fear of storms at all. Just be aware though Gordon that you are on a storms enthusiasts forum so as others have pointed out you'll have to be mindful that most people on here will be looking forward to getting storms!

I used to chase years about 16 years ago on my first bike - a 50cc derestricted moped (top speed 60+mph!)! It was all I had at the time and was able to skirt around traffic and other obstacles that would otherwise slow me down if I were in a car. These days with the congestion and bad roads in this country, coupled with the relentless speed humps, speed cameras and abundance of traffic lights its pretty much impossible to chase in a car in northern kent, and getting my new bike blasted by hail (and the general danger of riding around in high winds and storms) does not appeal, so instead of calling myself a chaser I now refer to myself as a "storm spotter" and prefer to wait for storms to come to my area. If it looks as though there is going to be a good area not too far from me heading further into kent where the roads are a little less congested I might be persuaded to give it a go in the car (I chased the northern lights in the isle of grain last year - about 25 miles away from me), but otherwise although I know its cutting down on my chances, I'm happy to wait and see if anything comes to me.

Just stopped raining here and looking brighter. Come on sun! Burn through the crud and heat that surface!

When I was a kid I used to hide on the stairs in my old house. There were walls on every side and no windows so I felt safest there. Also if I saw a storm coming when I was at school I used to fake illness so I could go home and hide. Love storms now, but I remember what it was like to be frightened back then.

My favourite part is the calm before the storm. Everything goes absolutely quiet, the wind drops to nothing, birds stop singing and you're looking at the dark clouds approaching in the distance. You can literally sense the electricity building in the air...and then you hear it. A distant rumble of thunder, and another one getting louder and louder and more frequent. Then you see the first bolt of lightning streak across the sky and you know you're in for a treat. I love it.

Thanks for the forecast Nick. Its gently raining here at the moment (in brixton today). Hopefully it clears and we get some surface heating going!

I used to be terrified of them when I was a kid, but since my teens the fear turned into fascination. Now I love 'em!

Well, until last week and not counting the pulse storm we had in mid april our last storm in my neck of the woods was the middle of last summer, (that was about the only storm I saw last year to boot, which turned out to be a very disappointing year for storms in my area) so you'll forgive me for hoping we get as many storms as possible! Lost count of the amount of times storms were forecast in my area over the past couple of months when we got nothing at all at that time. After much disappointment I am relishing the prospect of storms everyday!

That last pic, how close?!!! And the one above it - hitting the chimney!

I think you're in the wrong forum!

just looked at the ustream tower bridge live cam, can see the london storm at the back of canary wharf skyscrapers , the lightning is very infrequent though Oh man, I'm almost out of light here but can still make out the clouds - just. Looking over that way it looks real dark (yes, I know it's dusk, but the clouds in that direction do look ominous from what I can see). Yeah, almost dark here. Can just make out the CB to my north west now but it's not doing anything. I think that may be it now for today.

Can you see that huge cell to the north (I'm guessing from your location)?

Tell me about it. The same goes for "what appeared to be". It's as if they are in denial that the uk gets tornados. It's either a tornado or it isn't!

Ok, so I still cannot see the base of this second cell. It's literally stopped moving. Hasn't produced any strikes or thunder I don't think (although it was hard to tell earlier with that other active cell moving away). EDIT - It's begun to move north east now, albiet very slowly.