c_jephcott

It's been an exciting week out here. Yesterday we had what could only be described as a "supercell" outbreak, where numerous HP and LP storms moving their way across the state. Numerous Tail clouds, wall clouds, scud and possibly even a funnel were seen during the course of the afternoon. Sadly, I wasn't able to get my camera - I was sitting at the end of a runway, ready to head off when the first one hit! However, earlier this week, an intense band of thunderstorms started somewhere in the region of Gila Bend and made their way up into the valley around Phoenix, generating vast amounts of Lightning. I've got some photos of varying quality with regards to these storms and I'll make them available ASAP. Yet again, I believe one of them shows what could be a Tail cloud. I've also got some photos of a dust storm that swept through the area ahead of the storm. Very impressive though to see. Storms are now happening everyday, and we're being treated to some beautiful lightning shows. I just wish that I had a way of capturing them. I'll be attempting to take a video later, as the weather for today predicts yet more storms later on! Cheers for now Chris PS. To the mods, shall I make a new thread in the Worldwide Extreme Weather forum? As this doesn't really count as the USA storm chase 2007?

Agreed. I can't access it either at the moment as I'm in the USA. However, can someone point me in the right direction?

double post...

It's been an exceptionally hot few days now - most unlike the UK! Although I've almost forgotten what rain and grass look like! The storms last night did not hit, but seemed to run into the valley around Phoenix before dying out. In the end, we just got lumped with a "haboob" dust storm and nothing more than that sadly. Although when the dust storm had cleared, we were left with a very nice view out in the direction of Scottsdale, where there was still a small amount of CG Lightning. Today has proved to be a bit of a disappointment too - the storm clouds went up earlier on, but it was too late in the day for much to happen and soon the clouds died down. Although there were some great views of mature CBs. At the moment, it would appear that the majority of storms are over the mountains, helped by the immense updraughts which are experienced there. However, as the weather reporters here keep on saying, "The Monsoon is coming very soon". Talk about more CBs and storms tomorrow. I'll keep my camera handy. Just to prove that it isn't all bad around here - NOAA issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Pima County, citing lightning, large hail and damaging winds. If Pima County wasn't 100+ miles from here, and if I had a car, I'd have gone and watched it.

I'm currently in Phoenix, Az undergoing flight training and today is the first day of widespread thunderstorms. It appears at the moment that the first wave are hitting Mesa right now, with the KIWA and KPHX METARs reporting Blowing Dust and CBs respectively. KCGZ (Casa Grande Airport) is reporting lightning in the distance too. The cloud formations are quite interesting too, very high bases and it looks like any rain that is falling is almost evaporating before it hits the ground. I'll keep you guys informed on the storms out here until my return from here next month! I just hope that we get to see some storm action today!!!

Just had one flash of lightning here and a single rumble of thunder. Caught me totally by surprise! Now we have hail too. Here is Polebrook, in East Northants by the way.

Second storm of the day in Oundle.

Second of the day in Leicester - heavy rain and only one thunderclap heard.

We have one in Leicester now. Four or five rumbles of thunder. No lightning seen. But rotation observed. I'm just about to try and tak some photos.

We have thunder in Leicester now.

Two flashes of lightning and thunder recorded in Polebrook, East Northamptonshire. Quite close to being overhead too.

On going storm here, still rain and quite a few flashed of lightning in the mist outside. Quite surreal really!

Storm here, not much rain and not much lightning, but there is!

Whereabouts are you Flump? Oundle got a hell of a beating!!

Between 9:30 and 10:00, we had a mother. I mean, this was a pure spectacle. 180 strikes a minute according to several lightning sites. It really was a hell of a thing, rain flooded road. 8 to 9 strikes overhead. This was a real pleasure to behold. I would have liked to have seen it during the day though, can't help but have a sneaky suspicion that there was a funnel in it. Just a suspicion though, nothing scientific. Wouldn't surprise me if there was. It was just brilliant.

We have thunder constantly rumbling away in the background at the moment, sounds quite distant though.

Thought I'd start this as we've got a gem rumbling away out there. Lots of lightning and lots of thunder. Guess I won't be getting any sleep tonight!!

OK, got thunder and lightning coming up here now. It's just woken me up too, was having a nice dream about flying actually!! Aout 6 or 7 flashes now, still quite distant, but getting closer.

OK, we have got around 4 storms located around this area at the moment. There are immense CB buildups. So far we have only caught one, about an hour ago, but conditions here are amazing. I might head out in the car in a bit, the CB buildups are brilliant!

Strange, according to metcheck.coms lightning detector, there was one over the sea. Oh well, i certainly heard an isolated rumble of thunder in the distance. Will keep my eyes peeled. Some nice big clouds making their way across the sky here.

Rumble of thunder in the distance, heard here about 30 minutes ago. Looking at some lightning detectors, some are placing a storm in the Wash right now. Possibly from one of these, as here is sunny!

From where I was, it appeared to be heading eastwards, or north eastwards, basically in the direction of the fens from where I was. Incidently, the met office radar shows moderate rainfall where I would have expected it to be by now.

OK, we've got a storm now. 11 miles Southwest of Peterborough, in a village called Polebrook. There's an interesting cloud that looks like a wall cloud to. Rest assured, I'm watching this one develop. EDIT: very strange, none of the lightning radars are picking this one up at all - I've seen two flashes and a couple of rumbles of thunder. Anybody care to elaborate?

It's a shame that I wasn't around because it sounds like the storm affected all that area by where I live, and would have loved to have chased it, instead of being stuck here, worrying about exams!!!

Just how many tornados and funnel clouds were there yesterday? Sounds like it was quite a busy day! I hope you're all filing your reports to TORRO!!!