Karen Ann

As a child I experienced a hay and frog shower. I believe it was in the mega hot summer of '76 but I could be a year or two out. I was only a little one then but can remember it very clearly. It was a hot dry day, we were playing in the road at the front of our house, the wind picked up and a whirlwind was clearly visible to the west of us. A few moments later hay and small clods of earth began falling, shortly followed by a few spots of rain and the odd frog thrown in for good measure. It's documented in a book somewhere (don't ask me which one as I've read so many books over that years about 'weird goings on'). I remember reading it when I was about 18 and being surprised that the town I lived in was mentioned in a book and also that I could remember the event myself. My dad always says what he remembers the most about it, was the two young girls (teenagers) who were walking up our road at the time. He said they'd definately caught the brunt of the 'hay and clods of earth' shower. He said by the time they'd reached the end of our garden, they looked like they'd been dragged through a hedge backwards and then been for a dust bath and he said their faces of astonishment were a picture!

Fantastic idea. Will be using that one before I head of to Devon at the end of July.

Classic

I have to fully admit it's one of the reasons I've always been hesitant to sign up. Hubby has said I can sign up for the tour in 2011 (my 40th) but I'm not sure I'd be able to handle sitting in a car all that time. My back was agony after just driving up to Scotland over two days. What with the trapped nerve in my neck too, which would be made worse but looking up at the skies - I reckon you'd have to hire an ambulance to take me storm chasing http://nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Yep Stunning. Whilst I love the lightning pictures and am hooked on thunderstorms, there is just something about crazy clouds and evil looking skies that really intrigues me. I'd be useless out there with you, I'd just be looking up pathetically all the time and then be moaning about a sore neck to the extent you'd want to break it Good luck for the coming week. Shall be watching eagerly. Stay safe now.

Fab.

Lovely. I'll catch up with the piccies and updates in the morning then. Hey guys, you take care out there, I've been keeping a quiet eye on you from the start and now I'm fretting like a mother hen ..... thank god I don't actually know you, know you (if you know what I mean)... I'd be an absolute wreck.

Well done Stu. I think you did fantasically.

The Netweather Choir .... very big kids! But fantastic, can't stop smiling now. Glad you've had some action and glad to see you're having fun.

Personally I think Paul S and Ian C were separated at birth! Good luck chaps, happy chasing.

Small thunderstorm here in Poole, lasted about 1 hr - between 8.45 and 9.45am. Lots of rumblings.

Can report a small but long lived amount of thundery activity here today. Started rumbling in the distance at about 5.30pm, passed over Broadstone with a good couple of CG's and great cracks of thunder at about 6.45pm. All Finished by 7.00pm. Not surprised as the convection here this afternoon was quite beautiful and I had one of my 'heads' too.

Same as Snowdog and Sunkissed earlier woke to a light dusting but it'd all disappeared within 1/2 hour. Had the odd snow showers here and there. Nothing lying sadly.

2 flashes and 3 rumbles, followed by very heavy rain here. Waiting to see if anything else arrives.

I guess it just depends on whether you're talking counties/towns or villages. Some parts of Dorset do OK. But in Poole - Apart from the famous 'thunder snow' event of a few years ago, I haven't seen lying snow here since 1984. Sure, we've had the odd flake flurry down and a mere ultra light dusting (which is normally mistaken for frost) but nothing more. There have been times when I've been surrounded by snow, I've seen it on the Purbeck Hills in the distance, driven through it in the New Forest and been told that Salisbury Plain is covered. But here none, not a sausage. Odd.

Heaviest Rain/Hail I've ever experienced. Bit of Lightning and a rumble or two.

Broadstone has also just experienced a brief (20 minute) storm of thunder, lightning, heaving rain and hail. Pretty much overhead. Lovely.

Fab that. Will definately be waiting for the full version. Can't wait to see the NW teams vids too.

It does look verymcuh like chick weed to me too. Does it grow along the ground or upwards on a stem? If it grows along the ground, I'd say Yes, it's chick weed. It does, however, look similar to 'petty spurge' which grows up right on a stem, to about 15cm high. If it produces a milky substance whem the stem is broken off, I'd say it is the 'spurge'. I have a problem with this in my garden. The milky stuff is an irritant to skin and is poisonous to animals if eaten.

I'm totally rubbish - I don't watch much TV and I didn't realise the situation was so severe until I read this thread. This morning I was moaning to a friend that I was fed up with this cruddy rain and wanted some sunshine - now I feel totally ashamed of the comment but thankful that I live where I do and that I'm fortunate not to have to face the risk of flooding. For all those folk being affected by this situation, take care and stay safe.

Yes Blizzards, I get headaches when there are thunderstorms looming. I believe there are caused by the air pressure.

I really enjoyed reading about your experience Stewart. I love storms so much that like Aine, I dream to go on a storm chasing trip for my 40th (4 years to go). Hubby is quite happy for me to go off and do this, but he'd have to stay home and look after our daughter and to be honest, he wouldn't be interested in coming anyway - just not his thing. The only thing I'm not so sure about is 'going alone' so I think it's great that Aine had you to go along with her and that she's now got you hooked too! After reading your thoughts (before and after) you have certainly put my mind at rest with regards to 'how much you knew before you went'. I am a total novice and felt that my lack of experience may be irritating to other team members, but you have put my mind at rest with that little worry. Perhaps it is time I started to save my pennies.

[quote name='Snowkissed' date='9 Jun 2007, 03:35 PM' post='995557' I have just got back from the Wimborne festival and I have to say that I have not seen the weather look so stormy for a long time. The word is 'muggy' and it is very very close. Clearning skies over Poole and Bournemouth though.

That'll be the ones I'm looking at to my N and NE then! Going up quite nicely now, been watching them periodically for the last hour.

Oh well, nothing came of my line of convection yesterday. I sat in the back garden all evening up until about 11.30pm and watched some really quite impressive and promising clouds form, billowing upwards quite beautifully they were, but alas it was not to be. We had a few spits of rain at about 10pm but not even enough to make me move from my chair! This morning we have milkly clouds everywhere and boy, is it humid and very still. Perhaps my luck shall change later today, I will be watching and hoping.