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Weird Weather

Storm Steve could sweep across UK

Barney, Desmond, Steve, Tegan and Wendy are among the names chosen by members of the public to identify future storms affecting the UK and Ireland.
The Met Office announced the results after receiving thousands of responses via email, Facebook and Twitter.

It is hoped that naming storms will help raise awareness of severe weather and ensure people protect themselves.
A storm will be named when it is deemed potentially able to cause "substantial" impact on the UK or Ireland.

The full list of names chosen for future selection are: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy.
They will be taken from the list, in alphabetical order, alternating between male and female names, meaning the next severe storm will be known as Storm Abigail, followed by Storm Barney.

There is a name for each letter of the alphabet, excluding Q, U, X, Y and Z, which is the same naming convention as used in the US to help maintain consistency for North Atlantic storms.
Experts have found that attaching a name to a weather event makes it easier to follow its progress and simpler to reference on social media.

...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34578310
 
Can't remember a Fall so roller-coaster as this. The most extreme day was one where the low was 57 and the high was 97 (Fh), but it's been similar to this "point spread" for the last couple of weeks. Strange to use the AC and a bathroom heater in the same 24 hours.

Yeah, it's been the same situation here. AC in the day and wishing for a bathroom heater at night (I haven't been able to bring myself to use the heater quite yet. It seems almost decadent to use both :p)

A meteorologist on NPR says this is a typical La Nina pattern. When it does cool off, it's supposed to be colder and wetter than usual. Well, we'll see. I haven't checked the Old Farmer's Almanac yet. :)
 
There are storms, and there are severe storms - and there's this:

Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm

The strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Americas is bearing down on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening a "potentially catastrophic" landfall.
Mexican authorities have begun evacuating residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia.
The storm is comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says.
A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path.

The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of 200mph (325km/h).
The US National Hurricane Center said Patricia was "potentially catastrophic" and the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic.

Some 400,000 people live in vulnerable areas, according to Mexico's National Disaster Fund.
The hurricane, which will bring torrential rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the US centre said.
It also warned of potential flooding from the sea and destructive waves.

The hurricane's winds are strong enough "to get a plane in the air and keep it flying", World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Claire Nullis said.

According to forecasters, Patricia will make landfall in the western state of Jalisco, home to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, which could lie directly in its path.
Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states.

etc...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-34614864

Maps, pics, etc...
 
But weather watchers might still like to watch the BBC coverage of F1 this w/e:
Qualifying, Saturday, from 2145 on BBC2
The Race, Sunday, 2230 on BBC1
Hmmm... There may be nothing to watch:
United States GP uncertainty as hurricane causes heavy storms
By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer in Austin

The United States Grand Prix is shrouded in uncertainty as a result of heavy thunderstorms in Texas on the periphery of Hurricane Patricia.
Second practice at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin was cancelled as a result of the storms.
With up to 30cm of rain forecasted to fall on Saturday, qualifying could be postponed until Sunday.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel said: "If it's like this, we can't run. It does not look good."

...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34622733
(includes weather forecast video for Austin.)
 
Hmmm... There may be nothing to watch:
United States GP uncertainty as hurricane causes heavy storms
By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer in Austin

The United States Grand Prix is shrouded in uncertainty as a result of heavy thunderstorms in Texas on the periphery of Hurricane Patricia.
Second practice at the Circuit of the Americas near Austin was cancelled as a result of the storms.
With up to 30cm of rain forecasted to fall on Saturday, qualifying could be postponed until Sunday.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel said: "If it's like this, we can't run. It does not look good."

...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34622733
(includes weather forecast video for Austin.)

My Other Half was disappointed about this.

We're not far from Austin, and the rain has been a constant soaking drizzle, rather than storms. There's a lot of standing water and will be for days, no doubt. The temperature is still streaming hot, though. Temps aren't expected to drop until Sunday, IIRC.
 
While it had become hot and sunny again after my previous post above (and the FI race did go on after all) sudden storms flooded the area this morning. There was something like 9 inches of rain. We're currently trapped in our neighborhood due to low water crossings on both sides.

The flood sirens have been going off all day. The siren itself is disturbing enough (as it's meant to be) but it's the huge booming voice saying "Warning! Warning! Move to higher ground" that freaks me out - sounds like an alien invasion or something. :eek:

More rain is predicted and there's also a tornado warning out. There have been a couple of tornados outside of town but hopefully it's too hilly for one to touch down here. It's not as if we have anywhere to run if one did touch down, anyway. I guess it will be the old "everyone hide in the bathtub" drill if it comes to that.
 
Hottest UK November day recorded in mid Wales

The UK's November temperature record has been broken, with 22.4C (72.3F) being reached in mid Wales.
The temperature was recorded in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion, on Sunday afternoon.
The previous record was also in Wales, where temperatures reached 21.7C (71.1F) in Prestatyn in 1946.
BBC Weather's Helen Willetts said: "It's a long-standing record that's gone and it could even be broken again on Monday."

The average UK temperature for November was between 10C (50F) in the North and 15C (59F) in the South, with the Wales average about 12C (53.6F), she added.
The record temperature had been caused by the type of air currently being experienced, with "mild southerlies and lots of humid air", the forecaster said.

Fog brought temperatures down in many areas on Sunday, but places which were free of fog saw temperatures in the high teens. The fog also led to some flights being cancelled at Heathrow.
More warm air is forecast for Monday but showers are due on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for fog for much of England and parts of eastern Wales, from 21:00 Sunday until midday on Monday.
It said: "Areas of fog are expected to form during Sunday night becoming widespread and dense in places by Monday morning.
"Travel may be impacted by poor visibility, with some minor disruption expected."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34693529
 

Thousands flee homes as rare cyclone makes landfall in Yemen

A cyclone with hurricane-force winds has mae landfall on Yemen's Arabian Sea coast.

The storm has already caused widespread flooding in the country's fifth-largest city Mukalla and sent thousands of people fleeing for shelter.

Officials and meteorologists say the storm is the most intense in decades in the arid country, whose response is hampered by poverty and a raging civil war.


Now that is weird weather!
 
Hottest UK November day recorded in mid Wales

The UK's November temperature record has been broken, with 22.4C (72.3F) being reached in mid Wales.
The temperature was recorded in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion, on Sunday afternoon.
The previous record was also in Wales, where temperatures reached 21.7C (71.1F) in Prestatyn in 1946.
BBC Weather's Helen Willetts said: "It's a long-standing record that's gone and it could even be broken again on Monday."

The average UK temperature for November was between 10C (50F) in the North and 15C (59F) in the South, with the Wales average about 12C (53.6F), she added.
The record temperature had been caused by the type of air currently being experienced, with "mild southerlies and lots of humid air", the forecaster said.

Fog brought temperatures down in many areas on Sunday, but places which were free of fog saw temperatures in the high teens. The fog also led to some flights being cancelled at Heathrow.
More warm air is forecast for Monday but showers are due on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for fog for much of England and parts of eastern Wales, from 21:00 Sunday until midday on Monday.
It said: "Areas of fog are expected to form during Sunday night becoming widespread and dense in places by Monday morning.
"Travel may be impacted by poor visibility, with some minor disruption expected."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34693529

I saw a tiny patch of blue sky today after nearly a week of fog. It's gone now but it's lovely and warm out there and the wasp's nest behind the gutter is going full throttle. Wasps in November. There will be trouble to come from that lot.
 
Here is the weird weather forecast:
Three months of storms set to batter UK
Britain can expect a winter to rival that of 2013 with the biggest 'Super El Nino' in 144 years expected to hit the UK
By Eleanor Steafel
11:00AM GMT 09 Nov 2015

Britain will be battered by three months of storms which could start within days when the biggest Super El Nino in 144 years hits the UK.
A Met Office forecast warns of potential flooding caused by more than one and a half foot of rain, with councils and emergency services told to be on standby for what will "more likely than not" become "the strongest ever" El Nino on record.
The forecast - which predicts gale-force winds and freezing -14C temperatures in early 2016 - serves as a grim reminder of the winter of 2013, which wreaked chaos across the UK and left 17 people dead.

The report, obtained by the Sun, says: "The risk of spells of windy or stormy weather is greater than usual. There is clear shift towards above-average rainfall.
"El Nino moderately increases the probability of increased frequency of Atlantic depressions crossing the UK and wetter-than-average conditions."

The Met Office also warned of a severe drop in temperatures in the New Year caused by "sudden stratospheric warmings" where bitter easterly winds chill Britain.
The last El Nino, six years ago, saw the UK crippled by the worst winter for decades with harsh frosts, sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow setting in from early December and lasting until March.

A Met Office spokesperson said: "This year’s El Niño started to grow in April and it has now become a strong, mature event similar to the landmark 1997-8 event.
"Typically, growth will peak around the end of the year and decline during the first half of the following year.
"Currently, the outlook for El Niño is for further growth over the next two months."

This comes as the Met Office is set to issue a weather warning this week when strong gales are forecast to batter the coast of Britain.
Although conditions will not be blustery enough to trigger an official storm warning, downpours and 50mph winds could whip up huge waves bringing bridge restrictions and ferry disruptions.

Forecaster Sophie Yeomans said yesterday: “We are issuing a weather warning for Monday. Over the next few days it will continue to be wet and windy.
“The wind will affect most parts of the UK although the south might escape some of the rain.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/11983384/Three-months-of-storms-set-to-batter-UK.html
 
UK weather: Month of rain expected in one night as Met Office and Environment Agency issue severe flood warnings
Rain will be falling on already saturated ground, threatening more than 1,000 homes

A month’s rain is expected to fall in a single night over some parts of the UK, as major weather warnings were issued by the Met Office and Environment Agency.

Severe warnings, meaning a threat to life from flooding, have been issued for the six worst-affected areas in South Cumbria, among 73 warnings across north-west England and south-west Scotland.

The heavy rain is caused by moist tropical air, brought about by the remains of ex-hurricane Kate, which began forming in the Bahamas but has weakened as it heads towards the UK. Northwest England and southwest Scotland will bear the brunt of the rain, before clearing as it heads southeast.

The Met Office issued amber weather warnings which apply to areas across northern Wales, northern England and Scotland, meaning the public should be prepared to take action.

Cumbria Police warned motorists to drive "only if absolutely necessary" due to torrential rain leaving roads flooded. Chief inspector Matt Kennerley said: "Many of the county's roads, including the A66 at Threlkeld, have minor road surface flooding. Our advice is to drive only if necessary today as it is expected, that with further deteriorating weather conditions, more roads will be affected with an increasing severity.

"If you must drive, please do so with extreme care. Motorists should not drive through any floodwater of which they cannot judge the depth."

On opposite sides of the Lake District, the towns of Egremont and Kendal are on high alert due to rising river levels. Councils estimate up to 1,000 properties in Kendal and 600 in Egremont will be under threat. Emergency reception centres have been set up in both towns.

Environment Agency Director of Incident Management Craig Woolhouse said: “Heavy rain is falling on already saturated ground causing rivers to rise and bringing a risk of flooding across the northwest. We urge people to check the risk of flooding in their area, sign up for flood warnings and be prepared to take immediate action.”

The Environment Agency said it has teams deployed across the country to provide additional support in worst-hit areas. They will be out "maintaining flood defences, preparing temporary barriers, deploying sandbags along riverbanks, clearing out river blockages" as well as keeping an eye on water levels.

Tonight’s wet weather follows downpours that hit the Midlands and the Home Counties on Thursday and Friday. Many parts of the warning areas could see as much as 50-80mm of rain, with some parts of north Wales and northwest England possibly receiving as much as 200-250mm.
...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...f-england-and-south-of-scotland-a6735046.html
 
A couple days ago, Abigail helped create this surreal video:
Storm Abigail: 'Foamageddon' as British sea front engulfed in foam amid warning for motorists
'An event today is probably due to the high wind and waves being experienced as part of Storm Abigail'
Samuel Osborne
Friday 13 November 2015

Traffic came to a standstill at high tide along the Flyde coast in Lancashire as huge amounts of sea foam engulfed the promenade.
In the footage, cars are seen ploughing through the deep foam, which looks like snow.
The foam caused dangerous traffic conditions for many motorists, leading authorities to close the promenade between Fleetwood and Blackpool.

Sea foam forms when the ocean is agitated by wind and waves, a spokesperson for the Met Office explained.
...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...foam-amid-warning-for-motorists-a6733706.html
 
Heavy rain brings flood disruption across northern England

Heavy rain brought flooding to communities across the north of England on Sunday despite river levels stopping short of some predictions.
Rivers burst their banks in Cumbria with flooding affecting roads, farmland and train services across the county.
Only a handful of homes are thought to have been affected despite initial fears up to 1,600 properties could be at risk.
Reception centres were set up in the Cumbrian towns of Kendal and Egremont.

In addition to Cumbria, where the main A66 route was flooded at Threlkeld, some of the worst hit areas were in West and North Yorkshire.
The River Wharfe burst its banks in a number of places as it surged through Ilkley, Otley and Pool, north of Leeds.
Northern Trains had to cancel a large number of services after lines were flooded in West Yorkshire, including in Hebden Bridge and Leeds.

In Stockton-on-Tees, three people were taken to hospital for checks after a taxi overturned in what police described as "awful driving conditions".

...
The Environment Agency said it was particularly concerned about the town of Tadcaster, further down the River Wharfe.

Neil Davies, Environment Agency flood risk duty manager, said: "Further heavy, persistent rain is expected into Monday and river levels remain extremely high and are continuing to rise in places."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34829306
 
If you want to look for reporting of weird weather, then the Daily Express never fails to provide fodder - they are well know for publishing ridiculous claims (which are often as not completely contradicted a few months later). It's got to the point now where there are almost as many column inches devoted to pointing out how bad the Express (and their dodgy in-house weather forecasting 'experts' are) as there are Express stories stating that we will have a six month hea-twave starting in March / coldest summer since records began / record rainfall expected over summer / longest drought predicted for 50 year (delete as applicable - or if you are the Express, don't bother).

Just a quick search on 'daily express weather headline' pulled up these amongst others:

http://www.theguardian.com/environm...warning-beware-a-shower-of-extreme-inaccuracy

http://themediablog.typepad.com/the-media-blog/2012/08/daily-express-weather-headlines.html

http://www.theguardian.com/environm...aily-express-weather-forecast-jonathan-powell


Admittedly it does seem that George Monbiot may have a bit of an axe to grind for some reason, but you can't ignore the fact that the Express should probably not be your source for good weather forecasting.
 
I don't know how I'm supposed to get to sleep tonight with a hurricane going on outside. I keep worrying the roof will fly off.
 
Well, we have electricity in Morecambe & Lancaster for the first time in over 24 hours. It went off at around 11pm Saturday night and came back on about just after midnight today. Two of the bridges over the River Lune are damaged, all the city centre shops are shut.
I made an abortive attempt to visit my mother in Preston Sunday morning, but id take some photos of the River Lune before coming home. I have put a couple of them on here.

WP_20151206_004 by Spudrick1, on Flickr



WP_20151206_006 by Spudrick1, on Flickr
 
The West of Ireland got the worst of the storm but it was rather windy in Dublin.
 
My sister and her family have been flooded 10 years after the 1000 year flood in Cockermouth, and in a different part of town.
 
It is reckoned that the amount of rain fallen in 24 hours is a new British record, it fell in Cumbria.
 
Oh dear, no...there I was, thinking of buying land in Cumbria.
I may have to rethink that idea.
 
Q: What do you name a child born in the floods? A: Noah
A COUPLE who battled through Cumbria's biblical floods to hospital with minutes to spare before their new son arrived have given him the middle name Noah.
By Geoff Maynard
UPDATED: 20:34, Thu, Dec 10, 2015

John Bibby, 36, feared he would not be able to get wife Katharine to hospital on time because the roads out of their village were flooded.
Mrs Bibby, also 36, was due to be induced at Lancaster Hospital on Sunday morning as she was two weeks overdue, but when her husband checked the roads around his house he realised there was no way out of Backbarrow.
"The Backbarrow bridge was completely gone and the only other road out was covered in about three foot of water," he said.
"The house itself was fine, we're about 20 yards from the river but it's quite wide where we are."

He called the hospital and was told to try to come in the following day instead.
"I joked with Katharine, 'You better not go into labour naturally' but at 2:30 that afternoon she did!" he said.

"We were told to try and get to Furness General in Barrow instead."
But that would still mean getting out of the village.
"It was a bit of a panic, but at the same time my only experience of birth was with our daughter, Alyssa, two, and Katharine was in labour for 24 hours that time, so we had no idea how long it would take this time."
I joked 'You better not go into labour naturally' but at 2:30 that afternoon she did!

Mr Bibby tweeted to try to get advice on which roads were open which proved vital in helping the family get out of the village.

After a tense 40-minute journey, their two-year-old daughter Alyssa in the car too, they arrived at the hospital, and within just five minutes Ms Bibby gave birth.
"I was waiting outside the room trying to keep Alyssa entertained and a nurse came out and said, 'the baby is arriving now', I couldn't believe it. I thought we had plenty of time, I'd brought magazines, thought we might be here for days!" he said.

Their son weighed 8lb 11oz and completely healthy.
Mr Bibby said: "His first name was always going to be James because I'm a massive Bond fan - but we've just given him the middle name Noah, because of his journey through the floods!"

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/625859/Flood-baby-Noah-child-Cumbria
 
My local forecast gives rain most of the day (so no surprise there then!) Luckily I don't have to go anywhere today.

But there is a surprise in the forecast temperatures - 11 and 12 deg C most of the day, dropping away to 10 around nightfall - but then increasing to 13 deg C overnight! And this is December!
 
Terrible flooding in northern England:
UK floods: Homes evacuated amid heavy rain

Heavy rain has caused more flooding in northern England, with homes evacuated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and rivers overflowing in Manchester and Leeds.
Damage has included the destruction of a former pub in Greater Manchester, and a large hole has appeared in the M62.

The Met Office has issued two severe weather warnings, meaning danger to life, for further rainfall.
More than 300 flood alerts and warnings - 22 of them severe - are in place across England, Scotland and Wales.

etc...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35181139

While Down Under:
Christmas Day blaze guts Australia homes
26 December 2015

A Christmas Day bushfire has destroyed more than 100 homes in Australia's Victoria state, officials say.
Officials said 98 homes had been razed in Wye River and 18 at Separation Creek. No injuries are reported.
Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blaze along the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria's south-west, popular with holidaymakers.

A change to cooler weather and rain has greatly reduced the threat, but some emergency warnings remain in place.
Some 1,600 residents and tourists from the popular tourist spot of Lorne were evacuated on Friday amid fears that a wind change would push the fire towards the town, but were allowed to return on Saturday.

Many of those forced to leave their homes had to spend Christmas night in hastily-arranged shelters.

etc...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-35179209

From one extreme to another. A disturbing Xmas holiday for many. :(
 
Do not like ^
That's the problem with not replying to posts near the bottom of a page

Nobody knows what you 'do not like', because they can't be bothered to click back to a previous page. :twisted:

(It's a bit like posting a bare-naked URL - if you can't be arsed to tell us a bit about it, I can't be arsed to click on it!)
 
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