Very quick update on the (grand?) finale of the Spanish Plume that has ebbed and flowed this week. (directly above is the analysis UKMet synoptic chart posted this morning after the event. “In the event” round up see foot of this post (please send photos, I didn’t get any ;-( )
Today, Friday sees a final push of warm/hot continental air into Southern England with Tmax 28C or more today. The synoptic and upper air charts above show a Modified Spanish Plume set-up which is potentially conducive to MCS (big storms) pushing further north across the UK. The chart below shows this matches one of the three types of Spanish Plume identified by Lewis and Gray (2010) and further by Nat Melia (2012).
Winds charts below show a sheared wind environment with SE surface winds and a jetstream from the south. This is conducive to thunderstorms and some rotation which organises storms and produces possible tornadic features.
- surface winds
- 850hPa
- 500hPa
Tonight thunderstorms are forecast to develop locally across S UK as elevated features and move north into N / NE England. Models disagree on the track of these storms so some places are likely, as usual, to miss out.
The development as whole is debated too so could change during today. Models show vastly differing rainfall patterns.
- euro4
- gfs
- NetWx SR
- WRF NMM
Nevertheless, the potential is there for severe thunderstorms, even a meso-scale convective system (MCS) which is a group of sustained thunderstorms. Intense rainfall and large hail is also possible.
GFS Mid Level CAPE & overnight storm risk (%) for the southeast (data courtesy http://t.co/58dx0qluPA) : pic.twitter.com/F1IErauPLS
— Nick Parnell (@headcornweather) July 3, 2015
The charts below are a collection that illustrate the set up in more detail. These are posted for future reference and reanalysis of any event or non-event that occurs. Interestingly the storms arrive overnight (as usual) and surface based cape is therefore extremely limited with no solar heating. These are therefore likely to be elevated thunderstorms. During this potential episode overnight do stay weather aware in case you come across one of these potential beasts! Equally the set up is, as usual, not certain with convective forecasts so check weather professional media for updates.
- WRF skew t
- 700hPa upper chart
- surface streamlines
- moisture advection
- Thompson index
- GFS skew t
The outlook is for cooler Atlantic (still tropical) air to sweep away the continental plume during the weekend. Thereafter, mostly dry pleasant temperatures for the SE. Wetter further west with chance of showers as troughs drag fronts (mostly weak) across the north.
In the event:
Big storms erupted quickly from 10-11pm and intensified as they drifted north / NE. Reigate experienced some heavy rain and plenty of lightning. The storms produced over 93000 lightning strikes over the course of the night. The SE, always hit and miss with models for this event, scored only 17418 strikes. Below is an animation of radar and strikes.
Locally Reigate had some early action from developing storms before and through midnight. Storms then intensified further N/NE. Note the rainfall rate before midnight 135.6mm/hr giving approx 10mm (tbc) and associated pressure spikes with descending air from storms. Nice event, some spectacular lightning but not as much or as intense as further north. Pictures and video below from local photographer Simon Spiers who caught some amazing lightning shots around the area. Thanks for sharing.
@RGSweather @CarolynHailston @GavinPartridge Some of last nights pictures. Storms a good 3 miles away so i stayed dry pic.twitter.com/tr0tI11cQg
— Simon Spiers (@Sifisi) July 4, 2015
Heres a little Gif I just made of lightning Friday. pic.twitter.com/ey4a9VubC2
— Simon Spiers (@Sifisi) July 6, 2015
@RGSweather @CarolynHailston @GavinPartridge one more pic.twitter.com/nSkFJrUdmH
— Simon Spiers (@Sifisi) July 4, 2015