The watcher

Been lots of thunder around me today but nothing overhead. Just a short drop of rain at lunch time. Some very lively storms around. Please can I have a direct hit Thor?

Today has been pretty tasty, so far seen reports of 2 funnel clouds (one of these probably touching down) and has been 100's of strikes and more to come. Still not had an overhead thunderstorm but have been hearing rumbles all day.

Think we will see widespread storms today. More especially afternoon where I foresee a line of storms to develop from SW Ireland to NE Northern Ireland. These could be very lively too.

Really fancy my chances for a storm tomorrow. With a convergence zone across central Northern Ireland at midday.

Hearing the Thunder from those storms coming off the Isle of Man but looks like they are heading on a more Northerly path and will miss me.

Erm, look at Isle of man and what's heading up the East coast. Promising for the East. Heard about 5-6 distant rumbles so far.

Some ominous looking skies with Alto Cumulus and Castellanus around. Things perk up tomorrow and Wednesday with Thursday probably being my best risk.

There's a few showers of the coast of Wexford and Dublin. Few strikes from them too. Heading NNW.

Excited about storm potential next week. Tuesday afternoon see's a good risk of some storms developing and these could get severe in nature. We have that Low sitting perfectly poised to the West/SW dragging up warm humid air from the SE and adding moisture to the mix. Best poised for storms mid next week are Central, Southern and Western Ireland with the East and NE skimming the potential. Best MCS potential early in the week. Mainly coming up through Wales and Western England, whether they survive the Irish sea is open at the minute.

So long as we can get a Low/shortwave close to the UK (from W/SW) we'd surely have storms spark quite widely. Currently that's what I'm looking for, especially in respect to what Ireland can achieve from this.

Indeed, and it has already been uncomfortable most nights, but we haven't had a huge amount of humidity compared to what we will see. Definitely will see sparks in Ireland so long as we don't see an eventual cool down.

I wonder if we can manage to bag an MCS this time for the breakdown. Still a while away, but it's been a long time since we have had an MCS over Ireland similar to those that Spain and France would see. Long draw Southerlys with a Low out West/SW would be the better scenario and we may just get that.

December 2010, thundersnow and pea sized hail mixed in. Dropped 4-6 inches of hail and was very localized.

Looks like temps upping again come end of week high pressure looks like remaining well into next week. Longest spell of dry weather for a very long time I can remember for Ireland.

I'd imagine that during high heat in the UK, the sea breezes flowing inland then collide and create a convergence line/zone inland. Probably something to do with that, but I'll let John or someone correct me. Edit: No, I found this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_low although not something I'd have expected to find here on a small Island.

That explains it quite easily. It's obviously a misconception on my part. Thanks both of you.

There's probably a straight forward answer to this, but last night I was pondering about space travel and the like. My question is, how does one achieve propulsion or acceleration in a gravity free and vacuum environment, ie space? When I think of propulsion I imagine something creating force by pushing against another item to propel itself. So how do space rockets actually propel themselves in a place were there's no gravity or air/gas (vacuum)? Also, if you leave earth at 12,000mph and turn off your engines as you get away from the gravitational pull, would you not continue to travel at the same speed without propulsion due to no frictional force to stop you?

Been hearing a bit about thunderstorms Friday but I'm reluctant to believe. Sure the Lift and Cape is good, but it's the trigger we need. Really need to get my head around those Skew-t's, otherwise I've to go through humidity, wind streams, sheer, dewpoint, etc.

Could be some sparks flying tomorrow for many areas.

Not sure temperature wise, mid twenties, slight breeze and cloudless skies.

Looks spot on now for at least a 5-7day spell of fine, settled and warm/very warm weather apart from the East coast at times. I look forward to it.

Some good little convective clouds around this eve, a close cousin of the cumulus congestus by the looks of it.

Yes, keep it lined out, we don't want to jinx a nice weekend.

Expecting a few heavy showers later this afternoon, and as someone else pointed out, of the pulse type. More of a post frontal affair than anything. Capes of upto 600j/kg and LI of -2. No decent shear unfortunately. Disorganised heavy showers, odd rumble of thunder.

I waited 2 years for a thunderstorm, and apart from the thundery shower I had in Bangor a few weeks ago, had another while I was at the festival. A good 30 minutes of torrential rain and several flash and rumbles. Weather hasn't been too bad of late. Seems dry in comparison to what it could be. All change today again though after last nights rain, showers and more forecast over the weekend. Red arrows display in Carrickfergus at 11am too. Hope it stays good for them.