Severe Blizzard

Still bl**** waiting. Guildford hit by best storm since 1999 early on Saturday morning - 18 hours before I arrived back from holiday. I posted back in May about this incessant bad luck of missing events at home when away on holiday - This annoyance and curse never seems to go away. Back for the summer now - so it's probably back to weeks of boring humid muck without storms here while the usual (Lincolnshire) areas get the 'goods'. Absolutely livid. Fed up with people saying, "did you see the storm"?. No I bl**** didn't - nothing severe happens in Guildford when I'm here. Why can't I have a holiday which; (a) Is not ruined by poor weather (eg. drizzle, cloud, wind and lack of sunshine). 2013. (b) Is not ruined by missing some exciting event at home while away, having had to sit through garbage, like that suffered in May where everywhere else gets the storms and Guildford misses out completely. 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014. © Produces an interesting event at the holiday destination at the time when I am there - not the night before I arrive (2013, 2014) or week later after I depart (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013) etc. Seems most other people have an exciting event when they holiday and they DON'T MISS ANY EVENTS AT HOME WHILE AWAY. Hopefully the abomination that has cursed me with this endless run of bad luck associated with sods law and never being in the right area at the right time, might get hit by a +ve CG and destroyed. I can then finally witness a decent thunder event where more normal statistical odds operate meaning a greater chance of being in the right area at the right time. Sorry for the rant but I have had a gut-full of this type of letdown in recent years - lousy thunder-free summers like 2010 and 2011, thundery summers like 2012 and 2013 where local areas missed everything, horrid days like 28th June 2012 seeing the usual eastern areas and much of northern England get USA-mid-west style storms while all Guildford sees is a pathetic puff of wind and the humid filth reduced in the fresher post-cold front air-mass, impressive rainfall events while away on holiday as in 2011, 2012 (and now 2014) where the rest of the summer yielded nothing. Let's hope 2014 can deliver - for everyone else here it already has - last time I saw anything worthwhile was in 2009 and really back as far as 1999 for anything prolonged (missed the main storms in 2006, the last above average year for thunder days here - as usual).

Nice little development over west Surrey at present. Started as heavy shower at 18:51 with some hail at 18:52. First thunder heard at 19:03. There have been 10 rumbles of thunder so far (19:26) making this the best thunder event of the year so far.

Boreathon this week. Storms guaranteed in 2 weeks time in S.E. I will be away on holiday in Cornwall and bound to miss the year's best event at home while away. So convinced that I might miss something I have arranged with security guard at work to keep CCTV footage of the car park so I watch the storm when I get home! All I need is the time of the event and the video can be accessed - a bit like watching a missed much loved TV programme. Looks like another unsettled June holiday like the dirges form last year back to 2007. (Sorry to be off-topic in this section).

2nd let-down in 36 hours. Funny how the thunder forecast never comes to fruition here but the downgrades are always set in stone while elsewhere gets the thunder event promised and upgrades. I bet a years wages that Guildford sees out May without a single clap of thunder - not even one of our 'one rumble wonders' which usually seem to be the best we can muster here. Furthermore, I bet another years wages that when I go on holiday to Cornwall next month, that is when Guildford gets clobbered by the best storm for years while Cornwall gets the usual dross when I attempt to have a holiday and I miss the excitement craved all year. Then another summer of garbage like the last 7 years. Even last year wasn't great here and no thunder was heard in August which was supposedly a thundery month. Hate U.K. weather like this and seriously wish I could go USA or even European storm chasing just to get my fix then perhaps I would not be so bored with the pathetic let-downs and constant 'unfair' disappointment and 'sods law' frustration which makes up 99.9% of events here.

First thunder heard to west at 20:21. Clear sky overhead and to N.E. Lightning first seen 20:25 followed by closer thunder at 20:27. Clear sky, stars and several aircraft lights (looking like they had flown through the Cb)to N.E.with sky filling in. 4 quite bright flashes, 3 without thunder, to west between 20:28~20:34, the 20:34 flash followed by fairly loud thunder and sudden heavy rain. Also, fairly windy (15~20 mph) after a less breezy period earlier in evening. Bright lightning with lovely loud thunder and booming vibration felt in window ledge at 20:38. Rain eases at 20:45 with about 5.0 mm so far. Less thunder to follow with rumbles at 20:47, 21:15, 21:30 & 21:36. Rain is increasing as I write 21:37. Surprised the Met-Office and other lightning detectors are not showing MANY more discharges. This event is by far the best for duration and amount of thunder in Guildford this year! More than our usual one-rumble affairs.

Isn't it great when some of the models finally get a thunderstorm right? 30 mins of flashes and bangs here in Eastbourne last night, great stuff!! clapping.gif (Sorry - quote feature wouldn't work, so I had to Copy & Paste COAST's remark). Be a miracle in itself if the model for an interesting event leads to this area seeing a thunderstorm. For Guildford 2013 has been as bad as all the other years since 2006, except this year there has either been repeated hope followed by failures with the models proving right for other locations who get their storms while we completely miss them or failure of the model altogether. This year is worse than others in the 2007~2012 storm-less era, as there has been so much activity elsewhere this year and Guildford has missed out EVERY time. Wouldn't be so annoying if everywhere had to suffer a rubbish year for thunder activity like in 2010 where there was little activity anywhere and the year was 'boring' rather than 'unfair'.

2013 - the worst year I have ever known for missing out. This area missed the snow in March and we have had no major thunder outbreak at all. There have been repeated forecast failures, lets downs and 'unfair' situations. Big deal - we got a 'good' summer - it was only exceptionally dry thanks to missing all the thunder outbreaks. Absolutely livid this evening - horrid day at work and come home hoping that SOMETHING might develop after a week of all the excitement pushing north over Devon and Cornwall. Btw - one of those storms that was supposed to affect the S.E. on 6th September hit my holiday spot - lightning hit a flagpole at the caravan park at Par - of course all I got when I was there 10 days later was poxy drizzle. So tonight, after the load of rubbish last night and another no-show at lunchtime today (both given warnings even in this area) there are interesting developments over north France and the English Channel due south of this area - after a week of north movement - hopes are raised - Guildford might actually get something - no, not bl**dy likely - not in this dreadful year - everything starts to move N.E. and guess where is destined to completely miss out??? 3.6 mm rain in one week from a depression in this synoptic set up is pitiful and pathetic. Sorry to complain but I have had a gutfull of this dreadful year and missing out ALL THE TIME. I wouldn't be so bad if there was just ONE event and the usual areas missed out for a change. 2013 - S.E. UK weather at its worst. Summer and autumn 2013 for interesting rain and thunder events is what that dreadful snowless winter 1983~1984 was like for missing out frustration with no snow in southern England - I NEVER want a repeat of that horrid cold zonality and if that's the theme for this winter after the dreadful lack of excitement in 2013, I will end up bonkers in the funny farm - that is if I am not bonkers already.

Looks like another '2nd August style' let-down in the south again. Still haven't heard any thunder this August. Not very impressed with summer 2013 for thunder - looks like the usual locations get all the fun again. Can't even say summer 2013 is driest on record now as the non-thundery rain yesterday morning (10.5 mm) upped the summer total to 61.9 mm exceeding the driest year, 1976 (52.8 mm). This part of S.E. misses everything - bet something exciting will happen during the 5 days I am away in September though.

This will be the one at Guildford having missed out big time over the last few days and with 28.3 mm falling at FLEET, HANTS yesterday.Why?Because I will be staying at Fleet overnight Fri-Sat and that will be when Guildford gets the long awaited deluge and storm. Bl**dy typical of the bad luck I have had with missing out in the last 15 months or so. If I cancelled the trip - the warning would go the way of all the others in the last few weeks - bust.

Add rude, obnoxious and ungrateful customers at supermarkets to this list.Sick to death of sweltering and wilting when struggling to keep the trolley bays full for these ungrateful wretches (usually young studenty types all boozed up) - only to get tutted at, moaned at or some other negative response just because I am in their way.Bad enough feeling annoyed about missing out on the storms without the double kick in the teeth of suffering in the humid muck and having to be at the wrath of other peoples tantrums and strops.

After a max. of 33.2 deg.C. today and a shift from Hell working in it this evening, I really hope this thunder event delivers at Guildford. It already looks like the usual areas are getting all the fun. All we got this evening was a brief shower that evaporated within 30 minutes and made it feel even more humid and wretched. If the amount and number of times that I get rudeness, derogatory and abusive remarks from customers could equal the number of times that Guildford gets a severe thunderstorm then I would be a happy man. Another example of disrespect and verbal abuse from a woman this evening who had the cheek to call me rude when she barged in front of me as I was struggling to negotiate line of trolleys into the bay trying not to knock the 5 or 6 students loitering in the entrance of the trolley bay. Maybe if this jumped up madam worked 6 hours in the car park in sweltering heat and got disrespect then she may understand the effects of her actions. Work related annoyances aside - one wonders why I get so annoyed about storms failing when we have to get the humid filth like this evening then I have to put up with situations like the above. I admit I am a severe weather FANATIC and a good thunderstorm really does make me feel energised and alive - not just plain angry like I feel things are going to get in the next few days. The forecast shows very little rain expected for this area and the 'risk' of thunder is low. This looks like our only chance now and I dread to think how bad it will get if this is yet another 'bust'. Why can't Guildford have a pleasant surprise for once and that the above forecast which is bound to verify, not come true for a change - perhaps even Lincolnshire go without and have a 'bust' just this once would be good! We suffered a major let-down in June - I am NOT ready for yet another and after all these other dreadful 'summers' in recent years. Be prepared for a much bigger moan post tomorrow night! Especially as 23rd July has delivered good storms in the past, notably 1983 in Guildford (reports of all nighter and 46 mm rain in 3 hours), 1984 (35 mm and 12 mm hail at Fleet) and 1996 (heavy thundery shower with 12 mm hail at Guildford). Can 2013 join the 23rd July satisfaction list? ps. Midnight 23rd July 1983 30 years ago right now! Close G-C near garden when camping out. Thunder was explosive and 'repeated' as the sound wave passed between houses in the street.

Sunday 22nd June 2003 was good - Saturday 29th May 1999 was excellent but sadly too short. In latter case, a friend reported ball lightning in her living room - we were only talking about it this morning funnily enough. Some thunder events since but no close discharges in Guildford since the two listed above. Last reasonable storm was on 7th July 2009. Dates a long ago highlighting how dreadful the lack of any decent storms has been in Guildford and the vicinity in recent and not so recent years.

Last decent storm at Guildford was 7th July 2009, with 29.5 mm rain and several hours of thunderstorm activity in a cool W.N.W.ly trough set-up. Most events since have been single 'claps' to about 3~4 rumbles but no more. Thunder only heard on 4 days in 2010, 6 days in 2011 but a better 12 days in 2012, including 2 decent rumbles on Christmas day. The annual mean for Guildford is 16 days. So far in 2013, there have been 4 days and these were all single rumbles and the last 2 dates were barely audible. Thursday 18th April / Saturday 11th May / Thursday 23rd May / Friday 7th June. The last occasion with more than one rumble was Christmas day last year (2 rumbles) and last occasion with over 10 rumbles was Saturday 25th August last year - but no precipitation fell locally as shower moved to north of Guildford, clobbering Woking area. The last successful 'home grown' event affecting Guildford was in August 2004! and although there was a plume event on 19th August last year, this missed Guildford affecting areas to the east, the last successful plume event was therefore 16th July 2009. Indeed, the last decent month with a 'reasonable' level of thundery activity was July 2009 (7th, 16th and 24th - all with multiple discharges and lasted more than 1 hour).

It's not the thunderstorms that make me under the weather, it's the constant dross and missing out like we are getting yet again this 'summer' that leave me feeling fed up, bad tempered, irritable and tired and extremely b-o-o-r-r-e-e-d. Yawn. Seeing other people get all the fun (like 28th June last year) just exacerbates this frustration especially when there are no other exciting weather or non-weather events to look forward to in a 'post-holiday' set-up. Thunderstorms leave me energetic and feeling full of life and they bring a welcome relief to the monotony of daily humdrum life as does snow in the winter.

Thoroughly fed up today and this evening. Had to work another shift in nauseating humid muck knowing about last night's continental excitement while we miss out yet again. Feeling like this is getting to be almost the norm in summer now and year in year out it NEVER seems to change. The emphasis is always on S.E. England and central south England missing storms, never getting surprise thunder events or upgrades to forecasts. Each year one area gets favoured or there is a theme - 2010: Storms moving N.E. into low countries and Germany, like last night; 2011 & 2012: N.E. England favoured. In other words, never the S.E. Summer is now a horrid season and it is getting a right bore. I am definitely a winter person and SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder should be renamed Summer Affective Disorder as I feel more depressed, bad tempered and lacking in enthusiasm in the summer than winter these days. Current summers for the deficiency of thunder are the equivalent of those dreadful winters for the deficiency of snow in the late 1990's. Now there is NOTHING on the horizon except more atlantic depressions and their piddling useless amounts of rain in the S.E accompanied by an annoying constant breeze and no opportunities for shower development, yet too little sunshine to enjoy outdoor activities or feel good. I have never known such an awful summer month for dullness, boredom and depressing weather produce so little rain. Every decent quantity quoted is downgraded in the 24~36 hrs before. The term upgrade only applies to other peoples storms, never here. Nothing to look forward to now - had Cornwall holiday last week and there was drizzle and strong winds much of the week, yet I miss the glorious wonderful sunny week they had by one day! Typical - feel I have been cursed to suffer a FOURTH consecutive horrid summer - I know there is 2 months of 'summer'to go but as it is behaving like the last 3 already, can't see any chance it will improve. Wish I could move from this depressing overcrowded town where interesting weather never happens. Rant over. Sorry.

Is there EVER going to be a decent thunderstorm in Guildford, Surrey?

I can remember summers as bad as this one for missing out on thunderstorms and downgrades - 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008...I too am sick of this pattern every year - June is going to end up a very dry month here in Guildford unless there is any significant rain soon.I have lost count of the time 10 mm+ daily rainfalls have been forecast to be downgraded then the actual amount that falls is less than the downgraded amount, yet the weather is generally unsettled and dreary. If it can't rain / thunder, then some sunshine and pleasant warmth would be nice. Getting truly depressed with these summers. 2011 was enough and last year was even worse as local areas missed much of the 'excitement' that affected the rest of the U.K. (notably 28th June).I dislike summer these days as much as I disliked winters that repeatedly didn't deliver with snow and cold between 1988 and 2008. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) should be renamed Summer Affective Disorder with the horror shows, hopelessness and predictable boredom the 'modern' summer brings without fail every year.

Pity then that Guildford has missed all the snow this month and didn't get the thunder yesterday either. Every event seems to go round us and not over us. 5 days off work coming up this week and doesn't look like any of them will be suitable for a pleasant bike ride. Not impressed with March 2013 at all - fed up with all the drizzle and light rain and continuing 'winter' without snow. Wish it would either just be sunny and warm as last year or get some proper snow like in January when things did work out well locally.

Guildford: Haven't had a decent snow event since March since 1987 and that was only 5 cm which lasted all of 6 hours. The last 5 winters ('08~'09 through to '12~'13) - defined by 1st December to 28th (29th) February, have all performed well for snow, some better than others, but March is a different story. No March event has been more than a dusting since 6th~7th March 1987. Light snow has fallen in March in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008 and these were all 'dustings'. Each time, somewhere nearby received a much greater depth. So today's letdown is nothing new then. Last time there was snow in March was in 2008 - Sunday 23rd - which was supposed to yield 9 cm and there was all but 1 hour of moderate wet snow which thawed after another hour. Last impressive March snow event was probably Maunday Thursday 27th in 1975 when it was a cold Easter with further snow events to follow. There was also impressive depths in March in 1970 (4th) when the WHOLE region was affected and in a northerly as well; 1965 (4th) and 1964 (15th). At least today's bu**er-up is not connected to, or slurs the otherwise 'good' winter and is primarily a spring letdown and therefore not a winter letdown. I really do hope this March isn't going to be like 2006 (or 1996) with endless nasty windy cold damp and overcast days with 'winter' dragging on but not yielding any interesting events. That would be an even bigger kick in the teeth after today.

I remember this one well (Thursday 30th January 2003) at Guildford. There was heavy wet snow before 8 am with about 1~2 cm lying on all ground by 9 am. The snow started to thaw as less cold air spread in from the N.W. Temperatures were up to 2 deg.C. by 10 am. Just as I thought a pleasing bit of snow was over and I would have to cycle to work in thaw conditions to be followed by a dry day, the sky darkened noticeably to the N.W. By 10:15 am, light snow was falling from the threatening sky when the wind suddenly increased to about 20 mph. The heavy powdery snow started at 10:17 am and I managed to get 2 photos with the window open to follow. Within 5 seconds of the 2nd picture at 10:20 am there was a good 'crack' of thunder to the S.W. during the snow squall. All surfaces were covered again, although in a powdery dusting. The snow ended at 10:22 am and temperatures had dropped to -0.5 deg.C. This was my first true thundersnow event after thunder plus snow on 9th &13th April 1994 and 22nd February 1995. There was possibly distant thunder on 6th January 1994 during very heavy wet snow in the early evening (flashes seen to west and a rumble heard separately, thought to be railways and traffic respectively). The 2003 event was a portent of things to come almost a year later on Wednesday 28th January 2004. Although sunny on the 30th Jan '03 for a while. Clouds developed with frequent snow showers and period of prolonged snow at 0 deg.C. during afternoon especially at 4 pm to 5 pm. Snow died out in evening and stayed at a depth of 5~5,5 cm.

Marginal event here in Guildford with a pleasing hour of moderate snow from 11 am to noon, when I happened to be cycling in it, so got full effect of the days offerings. The overnight dusting was thawing by this time and the new snow was not settling. The dreaded rain set in after 1 pm. Heavy shower this evening with ice pellets leaving slush on skylights for a time. Horrible damp and yukky cold now with temps just above freezing and everything soaked. Debating whether to have bike ride tomorrow early but don't feel at all motivated with the bone aching damp and cold. Dreadful inaccuracy in Daily Express with the usual culprits coming out with even more tosh and bilge than usual. It was suggested that 1993 (20 years ago) was a cold winter! 1992~1993 was one of the most snowless, depressing and dreary winters I have ever had my misfortune to experience. Indeed, more snow fell today than in the whole of that winter. Many 'feet' of snow are to be expected in the U.K. - what? 12 inch imperial feet or cats feet (eg. 4 cm units). Nuthouse so-called experts in this trash media will probably adopt the cats-paw as a unit of snow depth measurement - the new SI unit. My 31 cm snowfall on 2nd February 2009 would have to be rewritten as 7.75 cats paws - now that is a lot of 'feet' depth. lol. Sorry could not resist a bit of good natured sarcasm and I am a cat lover too! Hope all dispirited coldies and snow lovers get their wishes soon.

Thunder at 3:37 am and 6:20 am at FLEET, HANTS. Thunder at GUILDFORD reported at 6:22 am. 20.5 mm rainfall measured overnight at Fleet is the highest daily total so far this month.

I have got a bad feeling about Winter 2012~2013 in the south. I have had this for some time and if the rest of 2012 is anything to go by then I sincerely hope I am wrong about the continuing trend of missing out every event going like it has been this year. The last few winters have all been interesting with decent snow and cold in 2008~09, 2009~10 and 2010~11 winter (although '11 was a let down). Even last winter 2011~12 had the goods in February and the mild and dry conditions were advantageous for cycling and work. My pet hates concerning type of weather are damp, dull and dreary conditions, windy conditions, along with drizzle and mediocre amounts of rain. Cold and damp conditions are thoroughly unpleasant especially with wind. Another dislike is a term I simply call 'unfairness' where local areas miss out and other locations have all the excitement. Boring anticyclonic weather can be dealt with by ignoring the weather and focusing on other interests. However, a mild and dry winter could help assist with hobbies like cycling in comfortable conditions. If there are exciting conditions like snow, then cycling may suffer but it is worth it for the winter weather thrill & interest. Bad winters in my opinion are perceived by the 3 following features and often a combination of all 3; (1) Amount of 'UNFAIRNESS'. (2) Amount of 'BOREDOM' (3) Amount of 'DISCOMFORT' The following are a list if the nastiest winters in my experience and the dominant features; 2005~06: Uncomfortable, Unfair (no snow, missed all the snow events - late Nov.05, late Dec.05, Feb.06 / frustrating Europe-wide snow except U.K. & frequent model downgrades for the cold in U.K.). 2001~02: Unfair (Mainly mild with limited snow in U.K.- poor snow distribution Christmas week where we miss everything - completely snowless winter). 1998~99: Unfair & Boring (Mainly mild and Atlantic type zonality - Brief cold with northerly toppler in January - no snow locally). 1992~93: Unfair, boring & unpleasant (hardly any snow, mild zonality in December & January with frequent snow up north. Horrendous February (1993) with extreme boredom from anticyclonic gloom, breezy, damp and cold but very low rainfall - my most uninteresting month ever following the disappointments in Dec & Jan) 1991~92: Boring. Almost snow free. Tedious at the time but can see the advantages of this winter nowadays. Very little snow anywhere in U.K. so no unfairness and hence little 'weather jealousy'. Conditions would have been good for outdoor activities with dry ground etc. Driest winter on record locally. 1988~89: Boring. Almost snow free & very dry. Similar to above but very mild - definitely good for outdoors had I been cycling in those days. 1983~84: Boring, VERY unfair and probably very uncomfortable given the frequent rain. (Virtually no snow locally, much snow from midlands Northwards and over prolonged period - very disappointing). I would rate 1992~1993 as the worst winter in my perception as the frustration just seemed endless! As can be seen, 2005~06 was the last horrid winter and being 7 years ago, I feel another is due. Let's hope I can be proved wrong.

I was not in Guildford at the time of the thunderstorms - but I do remember that afternoon well. The surface flow was N.E.ly and conditions were very unstable. There had been heavy rain in the late afternoon with thunder on Friday 31st July. The thunderstorms affected the Guildford area around 4 pm onwards and slowly moved west and N.W. The N.W. movement being more due to the first cell decaying and a new one developing to the right of the flow. The heaviest rain was initially to the N.E. of Guildford where an observer recorded 27~28 mm rain at East Horsley. This storm missed Guildford itself where only 7.5 mm fell in the whole day. To the South of the town, conditions were severe, especially at Milford, Hambledon, Elstead and possibly Farnham. An observer measured 12.5 mm rain with pea-sized hail at Milford and this was quoted in the Surrey Advertiser newspaper in the following week. While I was travelling south along the A331 near Farnborough there was vivid CG lightning to the south at 4:30 pm. The lightning was a vivid blue-purple colour and was estimated to be over Seale or Compton (Nr. Farnham). Around 5 pm. A new cell developed to the N.W. and rain / hail shafts were seen along the M3 westwards towards Basingstoke. There were reports of rain lashing 30 cm high on the motorway when chatting in the pub later that day. On visiting Fleet at 5:30 pm or so, there was a power cut which lasted about 45 minutes. Only 3 mm of rain fell at Fleet and all the activity had been to the east, south and west of the Guildford-Farnborough-Fleet area. I remember hearing about the tornado on TV later that evening and feeling peeved that I may have missed an exciting event at home (Guildford) but no one at work saw anything either. There had been a power failure at Guildford in the supermarket where I work, as the checkouts failed due to the power glitches at the height of the storm. For the main town area at Guildford the event was a good electrical storm with close lightning and loud thunder but disappointingly little rain.

Guildford: First thunder heard 1445. Dark threatening sky to west & N.W. with increasing thunder - quite loud in last 10 minutes - 19 rumbles so far and 1 CG lightning to west at 1515. No rain yet. Lovely loud bang at 1524. Best thunder of 2012 so far and most intense part hasn't got here yet - getting excited!