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Original poster

Thunderstorm potential

146 replies

Ohyoubadbadkitten · 27/06/2012 13:27

Quick heads up, will try to elaborate later, but today is a bit bonkers. Looks like there is potential for some severe thunderstorms tonight/tomorrow. I'll be honest and say that I've not looked at this myself yet have nicked it off a very reputable forum Tomorrows potential depends on what happens tonight - how much cloud cover is left over as we need the sun to get things going.

Will try and be more specific later,

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GloriaSmud · 29/06/2012 10:25

I think the metoffice made a bit of a blunder yesterday with their warnings. I know that thunderstorms are difficult to predict but you could see yesterday, just from the number of lightning strikes recorded on netweather (5000 in one hour and they were in a huge line, moving across from the West to the E. Midlands ~ I posted about it at 11am), that this wasn't going to be something that would fade out and just be a local thing. The metoffice must have seen that this storm was not diminishing as it moved across the country and could have given some red warnings out, even if it was for a couple of hours before the storms hit the NE. At least it would have been something.

Anyway, at least today is better ~ bit blustery and the sun's out Smile

notyummy · 29/06/2012 10:32

I live in Sleaford but work in Nottingham and got home yesterday afternoon to be greeted at afterschool club by a very excited (and damp...) DD who told me how they had been out in the storm when getting from the school to the bus. Lightning strikes/howling gales etc. I was worried that she would have been scared (5 years old) but it appears to have been the highlight of her week!

IamtheZombie · 29/06/2012 10:43

Gloria, I kept monitoring the lightning strikes page yesterday. By the time the storm reached Newcastle / Gateshead, the strike rate was 10,447!

GloriaSmud · 29/06/2012 10:50

Zombie ~ I forgot to check that page after the storm hit us! That's a lot of lightning strikes.

Notyummy ~ there were a fair few children yesterday who thought it was exciting. DDs were asking this morning if there was going to be another storm today. I said I didn't think so!

spiffysquiffyspiggy · 29/06/2012 11:31

Gateshead was completely paralysed with floods- I work in Newcastle and live closer to Sunderland. We ended up walking 6 miles home, knee deep at some points. Didn't see any hail but the lightning was amazing, the storm passed right over the top of our office and the rain was so heavy we couldn't see the bus stop outside the building.

Wish I'd read the weather threads yesterday- more reliable than the bbc and it might have saved me a soaking Grin

GloriaSmud · 29/06/2012 11:48

Have just spoken to my parents over at Hinckley (I spoke to them just before 1pm yesterday after reports of a tornado at Newbold) and they've had some damage (not as bad as some though) from the 1pm storm. Some slates have slipped from their roof, they think that their flat roof might have been damaged (it was leaking yesterday), their conservatory roof and guttering has holes in it and my Dad's and brothers cars have 'dimples' from the hailstones (and yes, the hailstones were like golfballs!)

My Dad and brother got some pictures which I'll try and put somewhere but will need DH's help (I'm so not technologically 'with it'!)

BiddyPop · 29/06/2012 12:53

We had extremely heavy rain yesterday morning in Dublin - it was starting at 4.30am when DH was leaving and was full on torrential at 6.30 when I refused to surface to the noise it woke DD who then needed a snuggle before abandoning me for tv (it was a great day when we taught her how to use the remote control!! Wink ).

DH was in Birmingham yesterday though, and said that at about 9.30 am it went from nice summer's morning to dark as night (the street lamps all turned on again) and really torrential rain. Proper downpour. There was a South African visiting (and DH spends a lot of time there) so they were both saying it was as heavy as the monsoon storms they get over there. The police were trying to divert people all over the place as streets had to get closed off. And then it stopped again and was a nice summer's day by lunchtime.

Ther is lots of high cloud with sunny patches between it here this morning. The clouds are moving fast but the wind is not that bad at ground level. It is a least a fresh day again though, rather than the mix we've had most of this week of a cold wet start moving into hot and muggy by lunchtime and more rain at night. (I have just given up on trying to pick suitable clothes and gone back to my winter solution of layers today).

BiddyPop · 29/06/2012 12:56

Sorry, that should read that DH spends a lot of time in SA - he is well used to their storms. He DIDN'T expect to see it in Birmingham.

We only had rain though, no T&L....boo :(

BiddyPop · 29/06/2012 13:02

Oh and I just remembered that DH kindly remarked last night when he got in that the rain was just starting when he left, as he had realised then that the washing was still on the line and he ignored that (and he had KNOWN it was due to rain, I didn;t as I hadn't time to look at forecasts). When I got up, it was dripping so I ignored it till I got home later and would then spin it again - but it was all dry apart from 1 jeans slightly damp that just needed overnight on a kitchen chair.

Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 29/06/2012 14:23

Helen, it is interesting to hear your perspective on alerts. They really dropped the ball on this one.

Spiffy, what an awful walk!

gloria, pictures would be great please. I hope your parents are ok, it must have been awful at the time.

I wonder how much damage was done overall, I'm finding these reports staggering.

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Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 29/06/2012 14:27

I'm going to be away this weekend and may not pick up posts but I promise I will read them and look at pics when I get back. Don't forget, TORRO are very interested indeed in your reports if you witnessed the storms or experienced damage. they also have a fb page.

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Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 30/06/2012 18:52

Sneaking in for ten minutes. I'd just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has put reports into TORRO so far. They are very interesting indeed and are helping to put together a really good picture of what happened. If you haven't done so and witnessed the storms/damage then it would be ace if you could submit a report too.

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GloriaSmud · 01/07/2012 22:07

OYBBK (if I've done it right!) there should be some storm/aftermath pics on my profile now.

mumat39 · 01/07/2012 22:45

Gloria, those pictures are amazing. Those hailstones must have been really coming down - those dimples make me glad I was nowhere near them. A bit scary.

I hope all's well with you and that there wasn't too much other damage.

take care

OYBBK, hope you've had a lovely weekend away. :)

Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 02/07/2012 18:52

Thanks Gloria! Those are some pretty good dents! Rather decent hailstone too!

I did thank you mumat39 - it was really nice :)

How is everyone getting on a few days after the event?

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GloriaSmud · 02/07/2012 20:05

It is a most excellent hailstone, isn't it?! It's just a pity that such an unusual weather event for the UK caused so much damage! I think Dad was going to take pictures of the conservatory roof and get on to his home insurance company about it but as they were saying on our local news, it's hard to know whether they'd pay out as it could be classed as one of those "Act of God" things.

As for the cars, well my brothers would be written off as it's so old. Dad's is only a '56 reg and the garage he takes it to, quoted £50 a dent. Dad thought there must be at least 50 or so all over his car, so that could be a write off too!

GloriaSmud · 02/07/2012 20:06

BTW have you heard from your DD on her residential? Is she enjoying it?

Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 02/07/2012 21:27

Gloria, your dad should get onto the insurance!!! I've had a few encounters with this issue through my severe weather interest and the insurance companies have paid out. They also paid out when we lost roof tiles due to wind.

We don't get any contact at all with dd :( theres been one update on the school website and that is it!

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Helenagrace · 03/07/2012 07:24

I spoke to friends in Newcastle. They have lost almost all of the furniture they had placed in storage whilst their house is being renovated. The storage unit flooded and, most upsetting of all, they have lost their wedding album and some original art work. Sad

GloriaSmud · 03/07/2012 12:45

OYBBK ~ I shall get Dad to follow it through with the insurance then, especially the stuff that needs doing to the house.
(It's tough on parents when schools don't allow contact during residentials. I'm sure your DDs having a good time and before you know it, she'll be home with all the dirty washing!)

Helena ~ that's really Sad. Re the wedding album, if it's a professional one is there a chance the photographers might have the negatives still?

Original poster
Ohyoubadbadkitten · 03/07/2012 13:04

oh no Helena :( thats awful for them.

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