Lord of the clouds

Experienced a very heavy hail shower with thunder and lightning at 5.30am whilst in Borough Market.....

I was up in Borough Market this morning buying my fruit and veg when there was a very heavy hail shower coupled with thunder and lightning at about 5.30am. Didn't really expect that...

Think about this! Could it not be that the trees aren't getting earlier but that our Calender system is out? We invented the calender system but is it that accurate??

Great pictures! Where is the Church?

I think I'd have to agree with you there, Duncan. Exceptional weather doesn't happen everyday, but when it does it is always remembered. When I was growing up in the 80's it seemed every winter would produce severe snow, but looking back at records it wasn't that frequent after all just seemed so. I do think that we are still in the position to get a harsh winter maybe this winter maybe not, but we can't rule it out. It makes me laugh when people say " no more snow in Britain ever, ever, ever again. Maybe I'm wrong!!!

Thanks for the above Summary John, very informative as is usual! No doubt many people on here will be righting off Winter now, even thought we are only in January!! There's still pleny of time for things to change, it aint over until the Fat Lady sings....

Good Morning all. Heavy rain has now set in with only light winds and a high of 8.0c Looks like we escape the winds again later on... Stay safe everyone!

Scattered broken high level cloud with a gusty westerly wind, not far of gale force at times. Mild though, at 7c. Have a good day all........

Totally agree with that. Obviously didn't make it to the dry cleaners to collect the cleaned suit!!

Yep, remember it like it was last week! The forecast for that day was for possible snow late on so imagine my disappointment as I saw rain on the kitchen window as I washed up at nearly 5pm. Suddenly the rain turned haevier accompanied by squally winds and thunder and lightning. Very soon the rain had turned to snow and it was white-out conditions, the first time I had experienced such weather. you really couldn't see more than 2' in front of you! Within the space of 30 minutes we had almost 8" of lying snow. A very memorable event and definately one I can tell my children. Ah aint the weatther exciting!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think that temperature was as important as the wya the pressure was set up [highs and lows]. And is it always the case that the weather patterns will always follow on from previous years set up??

The day started cool, cloudy and wet. Cleared a little by mid morning with brief sunny spells and odd bursts of rain. By late afternoon thunder was heard, heralding a severe thunderstorm in the Wallington/Carshalton area, between Sutton and Croydon. Torrential rain fell for 30-45 minutes causing widespread flooding in these areas with some roads impassible and many others like rivers. Frequent thunder and lightning rent the skies. All cleared to leave cloudy skies by late evening.

Similar scenes in Carshalton and Wallington, Surrey, this afternoon. Not seen rain as torrential as that for a good few months! Didn't expect weather like that today!

1. Ian McCaskill 2. Peter Cockroft 3. Elizabeth Saary Good idea this poll!!!

How do you think we feel in Surrey? I live in a brontophobes paradise, no storms and no rain! Perhaps you should try one of those rain dances!!!

Feb 2005 was when snow last layed on the ground here in N Surrey

A rather dismal day with only odd brighter spells. Feeling a touch milder than recently though in lighter NNW winds. Currently partly cloudy with a minimum of 2.9C, rain, sleet or snow (who knows) is on it's way from the north to reach us some time overnight.

A sunny day with easterly gales at times, highest gust recorde was 32mph just before noon. Currently clear, 3.2C. Hard frost expected if skies remain clear!

Moderate outbeaks of snow which is starting to lay on the roofs and graay areas. Roads and paths are clear at present, which is good else all my customers would be ataying indoors!! Cold, 0.3C, no wind. Take care out there...

After heavy overnight rain with winds almost gusting to gale force, it is now cloudy and mucky with leaves abound and a heavy drizzle falling from a steel grey sky.

We had torrential rain here for 15 minutes starting at 10pm. No signs on the Meto radar though!!

Well done Adi, a great read with some great pictures. Thanks for taking the time to prepare it to share with all of us!!

Early cloud broke a little to give some good sunny spells. Still feeling warm with a max of 23.4C in a few drops of rain early evening. Looks a promising weekend to come too...

Glorious wall to wall sunshine, 19C so far...

Dry with patchy high cloud, cool (10.2C)