MP-R

Admittedly I only read the description in SS's post but a mix of 2006 and 2008 wouldn't be a disaster to be honest. As you say, the latter three novembers you mention would be pants (although 2009 was thundery here and produced some great convective skies).

Sounds very similar to last November.

Drove through torrential rain just west of Reading on the M4 this evening. Lovely cloud structure as I was approaching, almost undulating. Didn't see any lightning but radar seemed to suggest some nearby.

Fair enough, thanks for your replies!

Is it normal to have heat lightning in such a chilly airmass? I thought that was more typical of plume setups.

Got robust cbs going up around here still.

Thunder heard east/southeast of here near Bristol Airport. Developing cell in that direction.

Quite a chilly one last night under clear skies and light winds, 06.9C the minimum.

That wind is decidedly fresh, but it's nice enough in the sun between some lovely convective cloudscapes. Reminds me more of March when we often get unsettled convective northwesterlies with clear polar air but strengthening sun, despite still being cool/chilly. Plenty more to come over the next few days it looks like - Saturday could feel very autumnal before a warmer day on Sunday.

Some hefty downpours coming in from the Severn Estuary this evening. One just gone through and looks like plenty more to come after a largely sunny day since late morning.

Briefly got into gusts in the 40s last night but generally gusting in the 30s so could've been worse. Nevertheless, lots of leaves, small branches and one or two trees down. Cool and showery this morning.

Briefly got into gusts in the 40s last night but generally gusting in the 30s so could've been worse. Nevertheless, lots of leaves, small branches and one or two trees down. Cool and showery this morning.

Righttt....

Ummm... yes it most certainly has. Skelmersdale receives considerably cooler nights than my locale and the only month I didn't register a single figured minimum was July.

Hard to tell how long the calm down at the weekend will last, but I wonder if this will be a back-to-front September like 2008 which was very similar to this in the first half, but largely dry and calm in the second half. So far, this seems most similar to 2011 with gales around the same date and generally unsettled up to this point after the fine first two days.