South West & Central Southern England Regional Discussion 16/3/13 16z ------>

[Bumpkin]

Frosty and foggy start here and now just cloudy and meh. Hoping for an appearance from the sun at some point today. My husband was talking to his friend last night who lives in Aberdeenshire and they were (and probably still are) experiencing a massive white-out.

[Coast]

Netweather thunderstorm risk forecast:

[Mapantz]

Who ordered the fog?

3.6°C and dank!

[offerman]

Really interesting:

From Ian;

"W COUNTRY It'll only take 8-9C today to fire-up heavy showers & thunderstorms, some of which could give local hail covering: tricky on roads"

How come 8-9 can fire off thunderstorms then? If it was 3-4 would this not happen then as the sun is still the same strength which i thought was the key to shower activity hence not many showers form Dec/Jan/Feb as sun is a bit weaker then.

Many Thanks in advance if you can explain to me as i am not that knowledgeable but find it all very interesting.

[Nights King]

Really interesting:

From Ian;

"W COUNTRY It'll only take 8-9C today to fire-up heavy showers & thunderstorms, some of which could give local hail covering: tricky on roads"

How come 8-9 can fire off thunderstorms then? If it was 3-4 would this not happen then as the sun is still the same strength which i thought was the key to shower activity hence not many showers form Dec/Jan/Feb as sun is a bit weaker then.

Many Thanks in advance if you can explain to me as i am not that knowledgeable but find it all very interesting.

Yes but I think its more the instability the difference in air temperatures produces as we have cold air above with a stronger sun causing 'warm' air to rise up through it etc

[offerman]

ok, Thanks Mullander.

[Coast]

Taking two SkewT's for 12 midday, the lift index just turns negative in Plymouth, while its still positive just along the coast in Exeter (where there is 0 CAPE as well) that's at an expected 7°C and is just over marginal although the TT index (a general indicator, not to be used alone) is good and the K index is hovering around weak:

Add a bit of convergence from the wind and it may be enough to spark things off

http://forum.netweat...kew-t-diagrams/

Edited March 19, 2013 by Coast

[Nights King]

It is a shame to see this thursday friday saturday looks like we shall once again be stuck with the cold rain while much of the country could see allot of snow Winter all over with the one chance we had going south of us. Wouldnt be so bad if we got to enjoy spring down here instead.

[Karl83]

The sun is out!

[Mapantz]

And ... bam! http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?tab=warnings&map=Warnings&fcTime=1363824000&regionName=sw

While i feel for those who are in flood prone areas, it's a bit of excitement for me. Looking good for triple-digit March rainfall here GLTW.

[AWD]

It is a shame to see this thursday friday saturday looks like we shall once again be stuck with the cold rain while much of the country could see allot of snow Winter all over with the one chance we had going south of us. Wouldnt be so bad if we got to enjoy spring down here instead.

When one season finishes another starts!

Bring on a summer of frequent, immense thundery activity I say!

[Bristawl Si]

When one season finishes another starts!

Bring on a summer of frequent, immense thundery activity I say!

Nah!

Warm, sunny and dry please

[AWD]

And ... bam! http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/#?tab=warnings&map=Warnings&fcTime=1363824000&regionName=sw

While i feel for those who are in flood prone areas, it's a bit of excitement for me. Looking good for triple-digit March rainfall here GLTW.

Surprised it covers such a small area and also that there aren't any snow warnings for the north.

[AWD]

The sun is out!

Becoming brighter here now too.

Is it me or can I see the first signs of cell development over South Devon and Cornwall?

[Mapantz]

Surprised it covers such a small area and also that there aren't any snow warnings for the north.

Snow warnings have now been issued.

[Olly]

Passing hail shower going through North Devon at the moment, suns been out all morning here and felt quite pleasant

[Nights King]

Snow warnings have now been issued.

Not for the south west they have not?

[Tam]

I can hear some distant thunder here in Bridgwater

[Andy Bown]

From Ian;

"W COUNTRY It'll only take 8-9C today to fire-up heavy showers & thunderstorms, some of which could give local hail covering: tricky on roads"

I can hear some distant thunder here in Bridgwater

I am guessing that thunder is from the cell moving slowly W-E towards the Wells area, it'll do well (lol pun intended) to maintain itself much further given the continuing dull and misty/cold conditions which have been in West Wiltshire all morning after a promising bright start until 08.00!

That cell must have developed in clearer conditions over Devon/Somerset allowing Ian's mention of 8c to 9c to come to fruition.

[djpaulbailey]

Theres a rather threatening cloud starting to build and approach here....come on thunderstorm....you know you want to!

[Mapantz]

There was a touch of blue skies here but it's clouded over again. Temp is 6.1°C

Showers breaking out fast in the south west, very slow moving too..

Sferics beginning to appear ..

Edited March 19, 2013 by Mapantz

[Karl83]

Looks like that nice little is heading towards Bristol! Come to dadda!

[AWD]

Cumulus starting to build up now in what feels like a rather warm and humid day in the strong sunshine we have now.

A scattering of cells now building over Devon & Cornwall which ca hopefully develop further over the next few hours.

[Man With Beard]

Lovely day in Portsmouth. Very spring-like. Strong sunshine taking the edge of the chill!

[djpaulbailey]

Can hear some thunder in the distance from southampton area....