Uk Convective General Discussion & Forecasts - May 2012

[fine wine]

Lightning every 15 seconds or so. Very impressive as it illuminates the cloud structure. The storm just inland are now exploding into life.

[Supacell]

Looks like a nice cell heading in towards the coast of north Essex/Suffolk, it exploded into life as it hit the land. A good sign for the night ahead for those of you lucky enough to live that way.

[Harry]

Just spent the last 5 mins looking North - can't see anything to my North through the cloud

[Wivenswold]

Direct hit. Torrential rain, lightning every 15 seconds. Seemingly from nowhere.

[Robbie Garrett]

For now, lots brewing over the continent though! Looks at the moment as if the track is for EA, but there's a strong westerly influence.

I really don't think anyone in the far SE corner, including London, can expect much before 00z. I think our earliest shot will be around 1-2 am, unless something fires nearby sooner.

If I remember correctly, didn't the proper old nighttime MCSs we used to get arrive about early hours of the morning lasting only 4-5hrs in the late 90s?

I never remember anything before then. The shower I got caught in a little over an hour ago smelt stormy, let's see how the rest of the night goes on shall we. Looking at the Metoffice, the best bet is 02-03am for the Lonentex (London, Kent and Sussex/Surrey) areas and Eastyyyy Anglia midnight onwards.

[Paul Sherman]

Can confirm, have been watching Lightning to my North East, must be the Clacton/Colchester/Wivenhoe Storm as viewed from SE Essex.

Nice

[liambailey09]

Wow! I can see the lightning over harwich from here 77 miles away! It's lighting up the anvil.

[Wivenswold]

That was pretty spectacular for 10 minutes. Now heading West towards Braintree/Halstead. Hope it keeps it together for you inlanders.

[chionomaniac]

Colchester storm looks pretty tasty on latest radar.

It's built from nothing very quickly over land so hope for us all.

[Flash Elvis]

Can confirm, have been watching Lightning to my North East, must be the Clacton/Colchester/Wivenhoe Storm as viewed from SE Essex.

Nice

You out down the Seafront Paul or watching from home?

[Wet'n'Dry]

I hope someone is getting this on video!!

[Harry]

STOP IT!!!

It's so painful! I can only be 5-10 miles as the crow flies from Paul S and I can't see bugger all.....so frustrating

Looking at the radar, unless something develops in the clear segment over the continent we could end up with naff all...the main cluster over Belgium is definitely moving too far North to swing towards Kent, while the stuff to our South is moving too far West. At the moment we're in a dry slot with little developing in between.

Could be an earlier night for me than I had hoped...especially so as I can't see anything from the Essex cells

Edited April 30, 2012 by Harry

[Paul Sherman]

That Cell near Colchester is going almost due West whereas the others are SE-NW

You out down the Seafront Paul or watching from home?

Got a decent View South, South East, East and North East from here at home, cloud tops lighting up about 5-6 times per minute.

Impressive Little Storm

[Wivenswold]

It's not taking much for it to go bang tonight. That cell between Margate and Clacton in the Thames Estuary has just charged. Lighting to the south from a completely new cell and hail here in Wivenhoe.

[Eskimo]

For cells to pop up over land at night, this is looking VERY good.

[camiscool]

kent always misses storms havent had one this year we are always in the dry slot!

[Paul Sherman]

It's not taking much for it to go bang tonight. That cell between Margate and Clacton in the Thames Estuary has just charged. Lighting to the south from a completely new cell and hail here in Wivenhoe.

Can also confirm a Cloud Top Flash now due East in the direction of that cell as well, looking good for you guys further west

[Wivenswold]

Update, several flashes from the new cell which is heading for somewhere between Chelmsford and Braintee. 2 storms in 30 minutes for me, possibly a record.

[Neilsouth]

Direct hit. Torrential rain, lightning every 15 seconds. Seemingly from nowhere.

http://www.raintoday.co.uk/

Check out those echoes

[maxemoo]

Just seen a flash of lightning around Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Time to go and hang from the window I think.

[Neilsouth]

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/observations/?tab=map&map=Rainfall

off the scale lol

[Harry]

Low level cloud here streaming in from an E/N'Erly direction, while upper level cloud continues on the NW'rly path!

I haven't seen a flash of lightning at night since June 2010!!!! My luck has to change soon surely! Not seen so much as a flicker from anything to our North and East (mind you my skyline is limited to a pan from N to SW)

[liambailey09]

Fantastic light show to the east, albeit not very frequent. Looks to be getting closer too. First night time lightning I've seen in a long time, even if it is a long way away aha!

[Costa Del Fal]

Does anyone think those storms over EA right now may reach the Midlands electrical?

[Paul Sherman]

Low level cloud here streaming in from an E/N'Erly direction, while upper level cloud continues on the NW'rly path!

I haven't seen a flash of lightning at night since June 2010!!!! My luck has to change soon surely! Not seen so much as a flicker from anything to our North and East (mind you my skyline is limited to a pan from N to SW)

Must be all the Disco Lights from the Clubs in Bas Vegas and Saaarfend blocking your view Harry - Mwahahaha