Gord

I was about to say...where is everyone from east of Birmingham? That Bournemouth storm should be heading their way! Tempted to drive over with a loud speaker and wake them up....they can't miss this!

Now somethings starting to build near Worcester and heading Kidderminster way. Not doing much but shows that it's not over yet. I think it's going to come good soon. More showers seem to be appearing. Edit: Although it looks like it's dying again!

Yep, Shrewsbury...at last...it's finally over to you. Enjoy.

There were some...and recently it's just got going again. However, sadly, it's not heading our way, as I hoped it would. The northeast movement just isn't well timed for us at the moment. That storm is actually heading for Shrewsbury/Telford area believe it or not. Which will cause mass celebrations at that end of the M54...and let's be honest, they deserve it! Still not giving up! Plenty of time left yet!

Sferics starting to appear near Hereford. That's good...

Exactly what I thought but things can develop that fast, while we're ahead of the cold front there is a chance..and I think it's still a good chance. However, watch the radar frames carefully and you can see the north east squash start to happen. I reckon we still have 2-3 hours left.

Just having a look again, I'm now not convinced it's those storms we should be looking at. Everything is moving so fast that the cold front is marching closer and closer. As it does so, it's pushing the storms (and developing new ones) ahead of it further east. So they're moving south to north but are getting shoved east at the same time if that makes sense. So it's those showers in South Wales that we need to be looking at. If they can electrify, then we'll be in business. The whole lot is getting squashed but it's helping it to develop and that could still be excellent news for us. Once the cold front is through later in the night, it'll be game over. But we do have things to be watching right now...I remain confident!

So the fronts are clearly going to occlude north of here now. What does that mean for us south of Manchester? Has the event shifted a bit further north than forecast?

I think we need to be looking down towards the Weymouth area. That could give us some interest here later. Depending on other developments of course.

Of course any of us could still see anything but if I were in Manchester or Liverpool...I'd be sitting up and taking note by now.

Looks like we all need to be on the lookout then! From Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury to Cambridge to Weymouth things are spawning.

Seems that the Midlands and Wales are spawning things so far. Either: 1. It's all kicking off much further north than thought. 2. It's a pre event surprise. 3. The gap behind these initial showers/storms will start to fill in. I don't know what it is! We'll soon find out! Still confident here in Dudley.

Things seem to be kicking off a bit further north than forecast. I think that would still leave us in a good position but superb news for Northern England if so.

Could it be that things are starting further north than forecast? If so, very good news for northern England.

Just been out for a walk with the dog. I have a good vantage point from up here in Gornal and there are some very interesting skies about. Really now does look like something's going to give. Have to admit, the most interesting devlopments seem to be to my south east. That's where the clear convection seems to be. To my west and south west, even though it still looks very turbulent, it does more look like an everyday Atlantic system coming in. Still a few bits of random convection out to the southwest and west though amongst that murk. But I have to say...judging by my inferior eye only, east and southeast looks more interesting. Of course, I'm probably completely wrong as my knowledge isn't as good as others...probably a good idea I never lead any storm chase! Very odd out there, it's more humid now but still that strong, fresh breeze.

I'm surprised at how windy it is this evening. Was this expected?

The wind has really picked up in the last hour. It's been breezy all afternoon but it's really gusting now.

Sunday might be looking interesting. There was a day in late July a couple of summers ago where we got an impressive thundery breakdown from a heatwave but the post cold front showers and storms a couple of days later were highly entertaining too....and very numerous.

That's the thing, I'm not writing them off even though it doesn't feel right to me at this precise moment. It's going to be fascinating to see how it all evolves this evening from where we are now...which I'm sure it will.

You see, if it wasn't for the internet/forecasts, I wouldn't feel that there were storms on the way. It just doesn't have that look or feel to me. Wednesday it definetly did but I just don't feel the love today! Of course, all the above is utter wibble in scientific terms so I am in no means writing them off. I do trust the professionals! Maybe I should've stayed away from forecasts this week so I could have had a surprise tonight!

Really lovely evening. This is my favourite summer weather. Much prefer it to the high temperatures and humidity. We've had plenty of these pleasantly warm sunny days and cool nights that I love this Spring and Summer so far so I don't begrudge the heat fans their fun! It all adds together to make a typical British Summer. We need a bit of everything on our little island to keep the interest high! Late Summer/Autumn is when I really start to enjoy the warmer half of the year as we can get some really very pleasant conditions around here before the Atlantic kicks in for Autumn...so all the heat reports this week keeps me amused as we get through high Summer! Anyway, this time tomorrow evening, hopefully we'll all be engrossed in some very stormy goings on!

Increasingly looking like tomorrow will be our best shot for a decent thunderstorm so far this summer. We seem to have lost so many potential weather events this year to other areas in the UK (snowstorms slipping north giving us rain...thunderstorms spawning on the very edges of our region and drifting off to give someone else a show)...something will work out for us in the end! At least we've been on the cool side on the cold front today. Hot weather is interesting but I'm a supply teacher and have appreciated the break from it!

Sky has calmed down again here but things have kicked off near Shrewsbury...certainly looked like things were developing as the gloominess passed over. Wouldn't be surprised to see more develop in the very north of our region soon.

It's suddenly got that feeling here that's something is about to give. Has gone dark and the sky is suddenly looking a lot more interesting.

Was at a friend's house in Wolverhampton when the big showers came through today. My wife thought she saw a flash of lightning out the corner of her eye but I saw or heard nothing. Can I still count it as a thunder day?!