Atlantic Storms - January Part 2

[Love Snow]

Was quite windy but the highlight of the day for me was the hail storm about an hour ago.. haven't seen a hail storm like that for a long time.

Was gutted i missed this event was indoors had the time came out and seen the Ground Covered in Hailstones.

[Evening thunder]

Quite a windy night and morning, though a lower than expected and slightly disappointing top gust of 38mph on my weather station.

It seems we often have lower speeds here relative to other areas of Devon/the SW with winds from the SW (I think Dartmoor gets in the way a bit) than if the wind was from the West/NW or the South. I got a gust of 37mph from the supposedly far less strong westerlies this afternoon.

October, November and December had stronger gusts here and I recorded stronger winds in June though that was a pretty windy day for June.

The squall line was briefly quite impressive when it went through, Torrential rain briefly with near gale force gusts veering SSW-NW and a 3C temp drop in 10 minutes. There were some gusts that sounded a bit stronger though it went through so quick I don't think and of the strongest gusts hit my anemometer. The neighbours had a door somewhere in their garden and it blew over onto their trampoline and the glass smashed.

So an interesting day for weather, but nothing too unusual or severe like other places especially parts of Scotland.

[kev238]

I think it was quite lucky that it was a bank holiday so schools werent open in Scotland. A few weeks ago the Met Office issued a red warning and schools were shut for the day, or closed at lunchtime, and gusts across the really populated areas were a lot lower than today.

Today, the red warning came out as the event was happening as the Met Office realised gusts were widespread above 90mph. It is just as well, that the school run was not happening as the consequences could have been far worse!

Normally I am a big supporter of the Met Office but I think they were a bit slow of the mark with todays event, also not having at least yellow alerts for the whole of England, as trees were downed across large areas of the country that were not under any warnings. This is especially true as a few people on here were warning that winds could be much higher than the models were showing due to the sting jet phenomenon.

It goes to show that tightness of isobars is not the only thing when forecasting winds; deepening of pressure systems as well as interaction with the jet are important factors that are less clear cut.

It makes me wonder how bad the mega storm that never happened would have been if it had hit our shores as modelled 5 days in advance.

However, at least this Winter is giving some interest with regards to high winds and this miust be linked to the strength of the Polar Vortex

[mardatha]

We just got power back, been off since this morning. That was much worse than Bawbag :lol:

[Erbyskerby]

Wind has really picked up again now after a relatively quiet afternoon - is there a secondary system coming in or is this still the remnants of last night?

[knocker]

It goes to show that tightness of isobars is not the only thing when forecasting winds; deepening of pressure systems as well as interaction with the jet are important factors that are less clear cut.

And do you honestly think the vastly experienced forecasters at the METO don't know that and quite a lot more?

[Liam J]

Another very windy day as we go through Wednesday with gales or severe gales developing, nothing as bad as today but still gusts of 60-70mph are quite likely in some places. The strongest winds look like affecting Scotland, locations adjacent to the Irish Sea and Northern England, windy over most of the UK.

It certainly won't help anyone trying to clear up after yesterdays storm.

Edited January 3, 2012 by Liam J

[kev238]

And do you honestly think the vastly experienced forecasters at the METO don't know that and quite a lot more?

Well of course they do, but then again they were caught out with wind speeds of this system by about twenty miles per hour when they were forecasting seventy to eighty for Scotland and got ninety to a hundred.

I was actually more thinking about my understanding of the strong winds of today.

[Insert Name Here]

And do you honestly think the vastly experienced forecasters at the METO don't know that and quite a lot more?

Despite their multi million pound supercomputers and multi million pound wage bill, even I couldve helped them make their red warning early enough to actually have some more usefulness by preventing commuters leaving the house if theyd just phoned me at 6 am. At 8.15 am the wind had peaked south of Glasgow.

Not impressed at all.(again)

Edited January 3, 2012 by Insert Name Here

[Mumbles]

Getting quite windy with rain here in Sherborne, Dorset now....

[Lyn-M]

The wind's just kicked off again here in the last ten minutes with a very squally shower sending heavy rain against the windows. Thankfully, it looks like the last one of the evening.

[jean91]

Hello all,

Hope not too much damages for everyone.

Here in Paris it also has been windy but not too bad.Strongest gust recorded 46 miles. Cloudy and windy all day although the strongest winds were in the afternoon.

No rain before 6 30 pm then at around 7 45 pm just when i was back from the grocery store the cold front passed!!!

Only if we had lightning and thunder it would almost have been like summer.with a nice 12c just as the cold front was approaching.

Intensity 75mm per hour and it lasted a good 7 to 9 mins.

[Mumbles]

hEY lYN, WHEREABOUTS IN dORSET ARE YOU?

[Lyn-M]

Evening Mumbles! Remember last winter and the snow...? I'm just SW of you, probably can see your lights!!!

[Terminal Moraine]

A gust of 67 mph shortly before 2230 as the secondary low moved through. The precipitation lost some of its intensity as it moved south from Lancashire but there was still a good spell of moderate sleet driven almost horizontally by the wind.

[Liam J]

Peak gusts recorded around the UK from todays severe event.

Stations: 172 Gusts Aberdaron (94 m) 93 mph Aberdeen/Dyce (69 m) 55 mph Aberporth (134 m) 71 mph Aboyne (140 m) 58 mph Alderney Channel Is (71 m) 71 mph Altnaharra (80 m) 37 mph Andrewsfield (87 m) 54 mph Aonach Mor (1130 m) 71 mph Aultbea (10 m) 40 mph Bala (163 m) 67 mph Ballypatrick Fst (156 m) 53 mph Barkston Heath (112 m) 48 mph Bedford (84 m) 53 mph Belfast/Aldergrove (AP) (68 m) 63 mph Belfast/Harbour (5 m) 54 mph Benbecula (6 m) 43 mph Benson (57 m) 52 mph Biggin Hill (183 m) 60 mph Bingley (267 m) 58 mph Birmingham (99 m) 50 mph Blackpool (AP) (10 m) 63 mph Boscombe Down (126 m) 63 mph Boulmer (27 m) 68 mph Bournemouth (10 m) 60 mph Bridlington (19 m) 52 mph Bristol/Lulsgate (189 m) 50 mph Brize Norton (81 m) 42 mph Cairngorm Mtns (1245 m) 108 mph Camborne (88 m) 57 mph Cambridge (15 m) 62 mph Capel Curig (215 m) 86 mph Cardiff (AP) (67 m) 50 mph Cardinham (199 m) 61 mph Castlederg (50 m) 75 mph Charlwood (58 m) 58 mph Charterhall (111 m) 77 mph Chivenor (6 m) 58 mph Church Fenton (8 m) 61 mph Church Lawford (106 m) 50 mph Coleshill (96 m) 50 mph Coningsby (6 m) 58 mph Cosford (83 m) 35 mph Coventry (AP) (82 m) 53 mph Cranfield (111 m) 52 mph Cranwell (62 m) 60 mph Crosby (9 m) 73 mph Culdrose (84 m) 69 mph Dishforth (33 m) 60 mph Donna Nook (11 m) 58 mph Drumalbin (245 m) 92 mph Dundee/Riverside (4 m) 71 mph Dundrennan (113 m) 75 mph Dunkeswell Aerodr. (253 m) 44 mph East Midlands (94 m) 58 mph Edinburgh (AP) (41 m) 81 mph Eglinton (AP) (9 m) 62 mph Eskdalemuir (242 m) 66 mph Exeter (AP) (30 m) 47 mph Fair Isle (57 m) 57 mph Farnborough (64 m) 58 mph Filton (59 m) 53 mph Foula (13 m) 45 mph Fylingdales (262 m) 58 mph Glasgow (AP) (8 m) 89 mph Glen Ogle (564 m) 89 mph Glenanne (160 m) 58 mph Great Dun Fell (847 m) 106 mph Guernsey (AP) (101 m) 61 mph Hawarden (9 m) 61 mph Hereford/Credenhill (76 m) 50 mph Herstmonceux (52 m) 54 mph High Wycombe (205 m) 47 mph Holbeach (2 m) 57 mph Humberside (31 m) 54 mph Inverbervie (134 m) 69 mph IoM / Ronaldsway (AP) (16 m) 68 mph Islay/Port Ellen (17 m) 97 mph Isle of Portland (52 m) 85 mph Jersey (AP) (84 m) 57 mph Kenley (170 m) 57 mph Keswick (81 m) 63 mph Kinloss (5 m) 52 mph Kirkwall (AP) (21 m) 45 mph Lake Vyrnwy (359 m) 73 mph Lakenheath (10 m) 52 mph Langdon Bay (117 m) 68 mph Larkhill (133 m) 53 mph Leconfield (7 m) 57 mph Leeds Bradford (207 m) 67 mph Leeds and Bradford (AP) (208 m) 54 mph Leeming (32 m) 60 mph Lerwick (84 m) 40 mph Leuchars (10 m) 80 mph Linton-On-Ouse (14 m) 60 mph Liscombe (347 m) 62 mph Little Rissington (210 m) 55 mph Liverpool (AP) (26 m) 58 mph Loch Glascanoch (264 m) 44 mph Loftus Samos (159 m) 75 mph London City (AP) (5 m) 46 mph London-Gatwick (62 m) 50 mph London-Heathrow (AP) (25 m) 47 mph Lossiemouth (6 m) 52 mph Lough Fea (227 m) 60 mph Luton (AP) (160 m) 52 mph Lyneham (147 m) 50 mph Machrihanish (10 m) 92 mph (0 m) 81 mph Manchester (69 m) 52 mph Manston (50 m) 54 mph Manston South East (54 m) 58 mph Marham (21 m) 52 mph Middle Wallop (91 m) 55 mph Mildenhall Royal Air Force (10 m) 55 mph Milford Haven (32 m) 55 mph Mumbles (32 m) 71 mph Newcastle (AP) (81 m) 63 mph Northolt (39 m) 63 mph Norwich Weather Centre (37 m) 48 mph Nottingham/Watnall (117 m) 50 mph Odiham (118 m) 60 mph Pembrey Sands (6 m) 66 mph Pershore (31 m) 53 mph Plymouth MtBatten (50 m) 73 mph Portglenone (65 m) 63 mph Prestwick (27 m) 84 mph Raf Mona (62 m) 69 mph Redesdale Camp (212 m) 70 mph Rhyl (76 m) 57 mph Scampton (57 m) 54 mph Scatsa/Shetland Island (22 m) 35 mph Scilly St Mary (30 m) 61 mph Sennybridge (307 m) 61 mph Shap (249 m) 68 mph Shawbury (72 m) 55 mph Shoeburyness Landw. (3 m) 48 mph Shoreham (AP) (2 m) 61 mph Skye/Lusa (18 m) 53 mph Solent MRSC (13 m) 76 mph South Uist Range (4 m) 50 mph Southamptom (AP) (9 m) 54 mph Southend-on-Sea (AP) (15 m) 47 mph St Angelo (47 m) 69 mph St Athan (49 m) 58 mph St Bees Head (123 m) 78 mph St Catherine's Pt (24 m) 69 mph Stansted (AP) (106 m) 52 mph Staverton Private (29 m) 50 mph Stornoway (15 m) 42 mph Strathallan (35 m) 73 mph Sule Skerry (12 m) 52 mph Sumburgh Cape (5 m) 44 mph Tain Range (4 m) 46 mph Tees-Side (37 m) 61 mph Thorney Island (3 m) 81 mph Tiree Island (12 m) 74 mph Topcliffe (28 m) 58 mph Trawscoed (62 m) 57 mph Tulloch Bridge (236 m) 48 mph Valley (10 m) 69 mph Waddington (68 m) 55 mph Wainfleet (5 m) 67 mph Walney Island (14 m) 62 mph Warcop Range (227 m) 65 mph Wattisham (89 m) 61 mph West Freugh (10 m) 74 mph Weybourne (20 m) 65 mph Wick (36 m) 50 mph Wittering (73 m) 55 mph Woodford (88 m) 60 mph Wyton (41 m) 48 mph Yeovilton (20 m) 48 mph

[shuggee]

Confirmed on Newsnight Scotland that central Scotland was at the receiving end of a 'sting jet' this morning.

[Richie V]

A gust of 67 mph shortly before 2230 as the secondary low moved through. The precipitation lost some of its intensity as it moved south from Lancashire but there was still a good spell of moderate sleet driven almost horizontally by the wind.

After two hours of much clamer conditions theres a very rapid increase. Just had a huge gust from the NNW, 60.6 Mph

Edit.... another, NNE' ly 61.1 Mph. Did'nt expect this

WNW 57.0 mph and 2 mins of mental hail now.

Edited January 3, 2012 by Richie V

[toggerob]

Even past midnight the winds are still particularly blowy here. Buxton reporting a peak gust of 61mph at midnight.

[Liam J]

<p> </p>

<p>Who was it last night who said today wouldn't be epic in terms of wind speeds?! <img src="http://hw.nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/nonono.gif" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>Tough call from the Meto this morning, they would've been well aware of the risk that a sting jet may occur, if they'd have issued a red alert last night they would have most likely been slated and called alarmist and going OTT by the Meto bashing crew! Then the chances that the wind strengths didn't really materialise to warrant the red alert in the first place then they would have called all sorts.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I do feel the red alert should have been issued a few hours earlier and broadcast on TV so people getting up for work etc had a better chance of preparing and re arranging travel plans. The alert could have been issued as soon as Malin Head NI recorded the 78mph mean speed and gust to 105mph (around 6am) followed by Islay Port Ellen 72mph Gust 97mph @ 7am, this was clearly the evidence of a sting jet formation heading right for the Central belt of Scotland.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Heres a brief explanation of how a sting jet forms, it may be useful for you.</p>

<p> </p>

<p> </p>

<div><em>A sting jet is a mesoscale air flow which originates in the cloud head of a rapidly deepening cyclone and gathers</em></div>

<div><em>speed as it descends towards the tip of the cloud head when it begins to hook around the cyclone centre. It</em></div>

<div><em>originates at an altitude of 5km, within layers of ascending moist air, and is distinct from the usual strong-wind</em></div>

<div><em>region associated with the warm conveyor belt and main cold front. As the jet descends, it passes through ice</em></div>

<div><em>crystals that cool it, increase its density and cause it to accelerate to more than 100mph at ground level.</em></div>

[Liam J]

Who was it last night who said today wouldn't be epic in terms of wind speeds?!

Tough call from the Meto this morning, they would've been well aware of the risk that a sting jet may occur, if they'd have issued a red alert last night they would have most likely been slated and called alarmist and going OTT by the Meto bashing crew! Then the chances that the wind strengths didn't really materialise to warrant the red alert in the first place then they would have been called all sorts.

I do feel the red alert should have been issued a few hours earlier and broadcast on TV and radio so people getting up for work etc had a better chance of preparing and re arranging travel plans. The alert could have been issued as soon as Malin Head NI recorded the 78mph mean speed and gust to 105mph (around 6am) followed by Islay Port Ellen 72mph Gust 97mph @ 7am, this was clearly the evidence of a sting jet formation heading right for the Central belt of Scotland.

Heres a brief explanation of how a sting jet forms, it may be of interest for some.

A sting jet is a mesoscale air flow which originates in the cloud head of a rapidly deepening cyclone and gathers

speed as it descends towards the tip of the cloud head when it begins to hook around the cyclone centre. It

originates at an altitude of 5km, within layers of ascending moist air, and is distinct from the usual strong-wind

region associated with the warm conveyor belt and main cold front. As the jet descends, it passes through ice

crystals that cool it, increase its density and cause it to accelerate to more than 100mph at ground level.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Liam J

[Richie V]

On the subject of the Met... I'm surprised there arent early warnings for north england for wind for tomorrow afternoon / evening. Look norths paul Hudson said expect gusts upto 70 mph across Yorkshire. That would make it windier here than the event just gone!

[Liam J]

Weatheronline are predicting gusts of 90mph+ tomorrow! I can't see winds that strength coming off looking at any model data? The only thing of note is the very powerful jet over the UK tomorrow, over 300km/h! I can only think they expect the very strong upper winds will make it to ground level as gusts, as I said I'm scratching my head with that forecast which is below

Wednesday Night

Even windier this evening and tonight as severe gales again develop across the country with wind gusts over 90mph in the west and 50-60mph inland. Spells of heavy rain push down across England and Wales but clears Scotland to showers, these wintry over high ground. Expect lows of 2 to 5C.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Liam J

[scotto]

What time is the NMM supposed to be updated for the 18z, so I can see what it says for tomorrow nights gust speeds???

[Richie V]

Weatheronline are predicting gusts of 90mph+ tomorrow! I can't see winds that strength coming off looking at any model data? The only thing of note is the very powerful jet over the UK tomorrow, over 300km/h! I can only think they expect the very strong upper winds will make it to ground level as gusts, as I said I'm scratching my head with that forecast which is below

Wednesday Night

Even windier this evening and tonight as severe gales again develop across the country with wind gusts over 90mph in the west and 50-60mph inland. Spells of heavy rain push down across England and Wales but clears Scotland to showers, these wintry over high ground. Expect lows of 2 to 5C.

I'm no technoboff on the subject but history has taught me that this is more than possible with a streight line jet of that magnitude. XC Weather has me down for 61 - 64 mph tommorow eve. Again they tend to slightly underestimate for my region due to my high exposure here.

Edited January 4, 2012 by Richie V