Lightning Hunter

Jan = 109.5mm (135.2%) Feb = 28.0mm (48.3%) Mar = 81.9mm (143.7%) Apr = 55.5mm (108.8%) May = 90.0mm (173.1%) 2008 (so far) = 364.9mm (121.8%)

Jan = 109.5mm Feb = 28.0mm Mar = 81.9mm Apr = 55.5mm May (so far) = 0.0mm 2008 (so far) = 274.9mm

You could have resized them - but I'll let you off because that is one great-looking cloud. You could have passed that off as a supercell if you told us you were in Kansas

I went down to Calshot spit to watch the 'queens' depart together the other evening. They passed just as the hazy sun was setting, giving them a nice hue (difficult for exposures though). First, Queen Mary 2, dwarfing the lifeboat. She is one of only 2 true ocean liners of the world (Queen Elizabeth 2 the other): By-standers watch as she sails into the Solent: Next up, the newest of the 'queens', the Queen Victoria. She isn't an ocean liner, just a cruise ship, hence the lack of 'RMS' status:

Yes, 6th April this year was 3 cm at 9 a.m. Previous April snow was 6 cm in April 1999. I've seen falling snow in April most years, 2006 for example we had a brief dusting from a heavy shower late in the month.

Snow in April is more common than in December down here - all part of spring. We had 4 inches on April 16th one year (1999 I think, no records to hand). Anyway, plenty to photograph and we were spoiled by temps of 18°C just the other week.

Ah yes of course, in that case I agree :blink: Are all wires insulated from the pylons, even small telephone wires etc?

I thought it was safer to be under power lines, especially large ones like those, in a storm because any strike is much more likely to hit those and safely discharge into the earth? Powerlines and lightning make a good photo too - might give it a go with our local powerstation should we get a storm in the next 10 yrs or so

Hi Iceagian, Yes it did have a slight 'bow' to it, but that doesn't make it a supercell. The storm had developed before sunset, and the storm was becoming outflow dominant. The gust front surged out south-westwards, lifting up some stable air creating the smooth shelf as it rushed overhead. It didn't even give any rain at my location, but there was a deluge just to the east and north as it was quite slow moving. I haven't heard any reports of any funnels or tornadoes and it certainly didn't produce anything whilst I was there, albeit late in it's life. btw, the full story with more pics is now on my website here: http://www.wildskies.co.uk/showerstorms/2008/13-04-08d.html

That footage is amazing, I've seen it loads of times but it never fails to impress. Must be some great dynamics going on to create that. I've seen 'satellite' tornadoes etc, but to have two join like that.....wow

Thanks for the comments Andy - no this was about 7hrs later, near sunset, a seperate storm.

Simply stunning, saw some lightning, but it gave no rain where I was:

Indeed, but this year is already better than last for photo opportunities so can't moan (yet). The last two years have been the least thundery in the last 15 here (6 days each with only 1 overhead, in 2006). No plume event affected us last year, we were grazed to the east with just distant rumbles. Bring back the stormy summer nights of the 1990s! :lol:

You got thunder from that little thing in pic 3? :lol: I've been surrounded with mountainous cbs all day for the last 3 days and not one has produced the hint of a rumble :lol: Nice shots btw

Today's selection of cumulonimbus from Hampshire:

Quickly snapped these this evening from my bedroom window :lol: They were over central Dorset at the time I think:

The answer to the first question is probably the 'Tri-State' tornado in 1925, USA. It lasted over 3 hrs and travelled over 200 miles, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-State_Tornado As for the second question, well I've seen some high profile chasers such as Warren Faidley using grills/mesh for their windscreens, but I think most just try to avoid damaging hail and keep a pair of safety goggles in the car just in case :o

The New Forest yesterday morning: More on my website :lol:

Some good shots of a tricky subject (irridescence) there! I've never managed a good shot due to flaring issues etc. Contrails are always interesting, and many chose to ignore them, but they can generate some good effects, as seen here. I saw a good example of vortices last April, they don't last long so you have to be quick!

Seriously, that's the only post I've ever seen you make. :o

A different point - why do people post pictures that are thousands of pixels wide? Are they straight from camera? I find it annoying that I can only view either a tiny thumbnail or a screen-busting 2500 pixel wide picture that takes ages to download. I know many 'browser' friends who find this strange and rather unique to this site, as do I.

OK, certainly the most interesting of the winter months here. 16 air frosts, and plenty of photo opportunities with a hard frost almost daily in the frost hollows of the nearby forest. Also some great PSC displays at sunset (a first for me). Not particularly warm, highest temp of 13°C, or cold with a low of -5°C. Overall temp near average, but drier than average. Rather dull and featureless beginning and end.

Was it foggy, or are the pictures not there? B) Beautiful animals, though not sure I agree with them being kept in zoos - much nicer to see in the wild (would love to do that).

31.5°C - a pretty average summer I reckon. We didn't get above 25°C last summer, the first time in 12 yrs of my records.

This is just an aircraftt contrail.