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Posted: 21-07-2013 12:51 Post subject:

Overcast and cool in Dublin.

Posted: 22-07-2013 10:07 Post subject:

Perhaps it's as well the heatwave is coming to an end...

The heat is giving ladybirds a taste for human flesh
Garden insects that normally feed off greenfly are biting humans in their search for liquid refreshment
By Cherrill Hicks
6:51PM BST 21 Jul 2013

Forget heat stroke, sunburn and dehydration. This month’s heatwave may lead to an altogether more surprising health hazard – ladybird bites.
The garden insects, which normally feed off greenfly or blackfly, have reportedly been switching their attention to humans in their search for liquid refreshment.

“This last happened in 1976, when we had a damp spring with lots of aphids, so the ladybird population thrived,” says Matt Shardlow, chief executive of Buglife. “Then it got dry and hot and the aphids shrivelled as they couldn’t get any water out of the plants. The ladybirds got desperate for water and started biting people.” Shocked

The worst culprit is the harlequin ladybird, an invasive species larger and shinier than the native variety and usually coloured orange with black spots or black with red spots. “It’s often the larvae that will bite, and they are generally black and bright orange,” says Shardlow.

Other creatures that normally suck the sap from plants, grass and trees are also turning to us for their water supply. “I was bitten at the weekend by both a leafhopper and a flower bug – which is very unusual,” says Shardlow. “I could see them – they have this long thin proboscis like a straw, with which they normally suck the sap from plants. This is a behavioural change brought on by a dry, hot spell.”

No figures on insect bites and stings are collected nationally, but Jolyon Medlock, head of medical entymology at Public Health England, believes the ongoing heatwave may well result in more bites as people cool off in gardens and parks, or leave windows open at night.
“When it’s this hot, you can’t advise people to close windows, but there is one species of mosquito active at the moment that will come into the house and bite during the night,” he warns. “This is especially likely if there is a standing collection of water nearby, such as a paddling pool.”

Insects that bite include midges, mosquitoes, flies and fleas (as well as spiders), although this year people should also watch out for horseflies, according to entymologist Steven Falk.
“We are seeing increasing numbers of horseflies, which like dry hot weather – both the large ones, called gadflies, and smaller ones, called cleggs,” he says. A horsefly bite can be particularly painful and take longer to heal because these insects cut the skin when they bite, rather than pierce it.

Most insect bites and stings in the UK are not serious. They should be washed with soap and water and a cold compress used to reduce any swelling and redness.
“Swelling is a reaction to the histamine in the insect’s saliva or venom, which is injected into human tissues to make it easier to feed,” says Dr Simon Stockley, the author of heatwave guidance published by the Royal College of General Practitioners. “It can be treated with ice and hydrocortisone cream. Taking antihistamine tablets for two or three days can help.”

If a bite becomes infected, and the skin becomes red, swollen and painful, an antibiotic treatment is needed. Some people may have a dangerous allergic reaction to insect bites and stings, adds Dr Stockley. “Anyone who has problems breathing or difficulty swallowing after an insect bite should be treated as an emergency.”

In the UK, insect bites do not normally cause infectious disease – aside from Lyme disease, which is transmitted by tick bites, characterised by a red “bullseye” rash. Left untreated, it can affect the nervous system, joints and heart.

The wisest course is to avoid insect bites by using repellent, covering up, and wearing gloves when gardening.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/10193879/The-heat-is-giving-ladybirds-a-taste-for-human-flesh.html

Posted: 23-07-2013 08:50 Post subject:

Posted: 23-07-2013 09:17 Post subject:

UK heatwave: Storms follow hottest day for years

Violent storms have marked the end of a three-week heatwave with thunder and lightning hitting the UK overnight.
Train services out of Manchester's main railway station have suffered major disruption after a lightning strike hit the signalling system.
A car and the roof of a house caught fire after being hit by lightning and there has been some localised flooding.

The change in weather comes after the hottest temperatures in seven years - which peaked on Monday at 33.5C.
The temperature - recorded in London - marked the hottest day since July 20, 2006.

Network Rail said trains out of Manchester Piccadilly will be delayed by at least 60 minutes, with no details about when they will be back to normal.
Passengers have been told that all services have been suspended out of Piccadilly.
Tram services have also been hit in Manchester after a lightning strike affected signalling for the city's Metrolink service.

Storms have hit England and Wales overnight and will last intermittently throughout today and tomorrow, coupled with torrential rain and the risk of flash floods.

A number of properties in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, were damaged by lightning, with firefighters called just before 06:00 BST. A car in the town also caught fire.

In Wiltshire firefighters tackled a blaze in the roof of a house on Stonehenge Road in Durrington at about 18:30 on Monday.
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said they received "many" lightning-related calls overnight.

London, Kent, Essex and Cambridgeshire were also affected. In Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, 21mm of rain fell in less than an hour, the BBC Weather Centre said.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning - "be aware" - for rain for parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

On Monday, 33.5C (92.3F) was recorded at Heathrow and Northolt, west London.
The Environment Agency issued one flood warning, meaning "flooding is expected, immediate action required", and another flood alert, meaning "flooding is possible, be prepared", for areas between Gore Point and Hurlstone Point in Somerset.

The Met Office's Yellow warning for Tuesday predicts "thunderstorms or longer spells of thundery rain during the course of Tuesday, with some torrential downpours in places".
It also warns of "the risk of localised disruption to travel" and "surface water flooding".

In Wales, Natural Resources Wales said heavy rain was likely to cause roads to flood and drains, ditches and small streams to overflow.

A further yellow warning of rain has been issued for Wednesday, affecting eastern parts of England and parts of Scotland, in particular the north-east of the country.

As for the seven-year-high daytime reading of 33.5C - recorded at Heathrow and Northolt on Monday - that may be revised upwards as the BBC Weather Centre said delayed reports from smaller weather stations could produce a higher reading.
It was the hottest temperature since a reading of 36.5C was recorded at Wisley, Surrey, on 19 July 2006.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23415544

All quiet here, but we may get storms later.

Posted: 06-09-2013 23:11 Post subject:

And now Falmouth hits the national headlines!

Freak hail storm brings winter scenes to Falmouth

A freak hail storm has left part of Falmouth in Cornwall looking like a winter's scene.

PE teacher Tommy Matthews, 52, of The Gluyas arrived home from work to find an inch of hail covering the street.
Neighbours' garages were flooded and manholes burst as the hail turned into a stream of water.

The hail storm, which left cars sliding on roads, occurred at about 17:00 BST after a Met Office warning of heavy rain in the South West overnight.

"I was walking up the street and it suddenly all went nuts," said Mr Matthews.
"My drive is still covered in hail.
"It went on for about 20 minutes. Just when I thought it was over, it came down harder and harder."
He said the hail was confined to within about a quarter of a mile radius of his home.

Patricia Minson, who lives nearby at Boslowick Road, said: "There was a thunder clap and the sky opened up.
"There were about 10 cars stuck on the hill.
"I've never seen anything like this."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23997585

Yep, it hit here too. The 'thunderclap' set off our building fire alarms (again). And the hail looked just like snow - when I went to the pub shortly after, I said "Merry Christmas!" to the barmaid!
I've taken photos, but they're still in the camera. There was minor flooding around our building, and water came under one of the entrance doors.

It was certainly something - possibly the heaviest hail I've ever experienced, It had me wondering how many tons of ice had fallen from the sky.

Posted: 07-09-2013 08:03 Post subject:

Flooding and hail storms hit Cornwall today.
By CGHollie.
Friday, September 06, 2013.

Heavy rain has caused widespread flooding across Cornwall today – and some parts have even been hit by hail storms.
Heavy downpours hit mid-Cornwall around midday and into the afternoon and there have even been hail storms in parts of Falmouth and Indian Queens, in between Newquay and St Austell.
?The news comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the region, with the risk of flooding in some areas.

The rain has caused chaos on the roads with parts of the A30 submerged in surface water flooding throughout most of the day.
Further west in Falmouth the heavy rain caused flooding on the A39 as well as on the High Street near Beacon Street.
There were reports of people being forced to leave a café opposite Superdrug, on the corner of Market Street and Killigrew Street, at around 4pm after knee-deep flood water poured into the building. Shocked

The downpours also affected the roads in Falmouth and caused queuing traffic in both directions near Ponsharden Roundabout.

The sea levels were also high this evening at Jubilee Wharf, in Penryn, with levels almost as high as the Quay.
The Met Office is warning people to be aware of the risk of localised flooding as more showers are due to hit tonight, with the risk of thunder.

Forecasters predict lighter rain tomorrow (Saturday) and the risk of more thundery downpours on Sunday.
The showers mark the end of Cornwall's sunniest summer in seven years.

http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Flooding-hail-storms-hit-Cornwall-today/story-19764300-detail/story.html

There are still large patches of hail lying here this morning.

Posted: 07-09-2013 08:07 Post subject:

From the Falmouth Packet:

Most read
1.Roads close as torrential rain causes flooding in Falmouth VIDEO
2.Snow arrives in Cornwall: Info and pictures

But the Snow story is from last January - and there's no mention of yesterday's hail!

(Latest mention of Hail in the FP:

Students 'hail quality of courses' Very Happy

7:41am Tuesday 13 August 2013 )

Posted: 08-09-2013 17:32 Post subject:

Northumbrian Water says Redcar flood schemes 'overwhelmed'

Multimillion-pound flood protection schemes on Teesside were "overwhelmed" during torrential rain on Friday, Northumbrian Water said.
Homeowners in Redcar criticised a water storage system, completed last year, after 60 homes were flooded.
Alistair Baker from Northumbrian Water said the "ferocity" of some storms was "well in excess of the design capabilities" of defence schemes.

Cleveland Fire Brigade received 240 calls for help during the downpours.
Families living at St Joseph's Court in Redcar were among those worse affected.
Simon Welch, whose home was flooded, said a storage tank was supposed to relieve the main sewer.

Mr Baker said: "I can say that in that area had it not been for work that was completed, even more homes would have been flooded.
"We are not complacent, we are doing all we can but there is only so much you can do and that work has to be prioritised so that money is spent appropriately and invested in the best way to benefit the most people in as many areas as possible."

Saltburn, Skelton and Skinningrove were also badly hit during Friday's flooding.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-24006758

There is still some ice remaining here from Friday's hail. It's around a drain where a huge mass of hail collected.

Posted: 09-09-2013 19:08 Post subject:

It,s been 38 degrees for me today. My wife and myself have just arrived in Bodrum mind.
Razz

Posted: 15-09-2013 08:12 Post subject:

Mexico hit by severe storms on east and west coasts
[Video - The BBC's Will Grant reports on the storm]

Mexico is being battered by two severe storms - one its eastern coast and another on its west, officials say.

More than 5,000 people have been evacuated on the Gulf of Mexico coast ahead of Hurricane Ingrid which already has winds of 120km/h (75mph).
It is expected to make landfall in the coming days.

Tropical Storm Manuel has hit the western coast, on the Pacific Ocean, bringing almost twice the monthly rainfall in just three days.
The states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Chihuahua have been the worst hit with some road and telecommunications links down.

The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says that Hurricane Ingrid is the second major storm of the hurricane season and has been steadily gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico.

Our correspondent says that it is considered to pose a serious risk to several communities in the region.
Most of those who have been evacuated are staying in official shelters while the remainder have sought refuge with friends and families.

In particular, the southern state of Chiapas and the eastern state of Veracruz have been affected.

Officials say that two of Mexico's three major oil-exporting ports are closed, although most of the country's Gulf Coast ports including Veracruz remained open on Saturday as the storm approached.
Ingrid is expected to deposit between 25cm (10in) and 63cm (25in) of rain over a large part of eastern Mexico, which will cause rivers to overflow and create flash floods and mudslides.
It could also cause a storm surge that would raise waters by 0.6m to 1.2m (2ft-4ft) above normal tide levels near where it makes landfall.

Earlier this week, 13 people were killed in Veracruz when their homes were buried under a landslide caused by heavy rains.

On the other side of the country, it is a similar story in the Pacific states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chihuahua to the north.
They have been hit by Tropical Storm Manuel and an estimated 600mm (23in) of rain is expected to be dumped in the region in just three days, almost twice the monthly rainfall.
The authorities fear that such massive amounts could cause further flash flooding and mudslides over what is traditionally a weekend of celebration for the country's independence day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24098184

Elsewhere, this:

Colorado flooding rescue operation continues

The US state of Colorado is continuing a large-scale rescue operation after severe flooding left five dead and hundreds unaccounted for.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate from affected communities.
The National Guard has been deployed to one town to supply food and water while inhabitants await rescue.

Although flood waters are now subsiding, more rain has been forecast and authorities have warned of more possible flash flooding.

A spokesman for Boulder County said that 200 people were still unaccounted for, but said that some of them may simply be out of contact with family and friends, or awaiting rescue.
However, the sheriff of Boulder County, Joe Pelle, said officials are "assuming that there may be further loss of life or injuries".
"I hope and pray that's not the case but, given the devastation in some of those closed canyons, it's certainly a high probability," Mr Pelle said.
Mr Pelle said that emergency services had not been to respond to residents in some areas because the damage to the road network had been so bad.

While National Guard helicopters and truck convoys have managed to reach stranded canyon communities where thousands of stranded residents are eager to escape the Rocky Mountain foothills, not everybody was willing to go.
Dozens of people in the isolated community of Jamestown wanted to stay and watch over their homes despite being warned against doing so by the authorities.

Rescuers are using helicopters to airlift those still stranded in the mountain village of Jamestown, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports from Los Angeles.
The National Guard has been using large trucks to get through the floodwaters in the town of Lyons to deliver food and water to those stills trapped by the floodwaters.
Towns such as Jamestown, Lyons and Longmont have been reduced to islands by the swirling waters.

Days of heavy rain have caused severe damage to property and forced the rescue of more than 2,500 people, Boulder County authorities have said.
More than 15in (38cm) of rain - nearly half the region's annual average - fell in a single week, according to the National Weather Service.

President Barack Obama has signed an emergency order approving federal disaster aid for Boulder County.

etc...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24095893

Posted: 08-10-2013 07:43 Post subject:

Is the British weather unique in the world?
By Denise Winterman, BBC News Magazine

It's often said by laymen that the UK's weather is unique. But what makes it so different from anywhere else?

Whatever you think of the British weather, if you don't like it one day there's always a good chance you might like it the next.
Weather, in meteorological terms, refers to the daily elements like temperature, wind and rain. And in Britain they can all change hour by hour and day by day.

It's this diversity and changeability that makes British weather so distinct, say meteorologists. While temperatures are fairly mild and there are four distinct seasons, you can also get warm weather in the middle of February and freezing rain in the middle of August - or both in one day.

"Other countries might have more dramatic weather," says Dr Liz Bentley, head of the Weather Club at the Royal Meteorological Society. "In India and Pakistan you get monsoon season, but you can usually predict the day it will start and the day it will finish.
"In the UK you sometimes have to look at the weather forecast several times in one morning just to plan a trip out that afternoon. Things can change that quickly."

Many meteorologists call the British weather unique, although some say you could argue the weather in all countries is unique because no two are the same geographically and geologically. But they agree it is hard to find another country in the world with weather that compares to the UK.
So what makes it so distinctly variable?

"Britain's unique weather is all down to the fact it is an island and where it's positioned on the planet, between the Atlantic Ocean and a large land mass, continental Europe," says Helen Chivers from the Met Office. "There is a lot going on meteorologically where we are."

Britain is under an area where five main air masses meet. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout.
In the UK they are either polar or tropical, depending on where the air mass originated from, they are also divided into maritime or continental, depending on whether the air has passed over land or sea.
They come from all directions and can bring all types of weather.

When they meet it creates a weather front. The air masses fight it out and the one that wins dictates the weather. There is a sixth air mass, the returning Polar Maritime, which is a variation of the Polar Maritime.

One more important thing to throw into the mix is the jet stream. It is a high-altitude ribbon of fast-moving air that drives all weather in the UK's latitude around the northern hemisphere. It is responsible for developing weather systems.
All in all, it's quite a mix of atmospheric conditions battling it out.
"It's what makes the British weather so fascinating," says Bentley. "Experiencing such big changes so quickly is unique."

Fascinating or frustrating, the layman might argue, but no other country in the world gets the same weather, say experts.
"Japan is probably the only other place that has similarities to the UK when it comes to weather," says Chivers.
"It is similar to us but in reverse. It is an island and has the Pacific Ocean to the east and Eurasian continent to the west. Britain's variations in weather really are that rare."

These variations pose problems, from when to have a BBQ to effective planning for businesses. Companies spend millions trying not to be caught out by the British weather.
"From energy companies, supermarkets and insurance firms to banks, technology companies and local authorities, they all need to plan for the weather," say Richard Tipper, director of Ecometrica, which works with companies to get the climate and weather data they need to plan efficiently.
"It's the amazing changeability in British weather that is unique, it also means planning for it isn't always easy."

Subtle changes in the weather are happening and will continue, says Bentley.
"We are starting to see more record-breaking weather, record droughts and record rainfall," she says.

Last year is a good example. The dramatic switch from drought in early 2012 to the wettest April to June on record was of a magnitude never seen before, according to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH).
Hosepipes bans were brought in early in the year but by early autumn levels groundwater levels were "well above" average.

But the country's fascination with the weather probably won't change. Nor will some people's love for it.
"There is a real beauty about the weather in the UK," says Bentley.

"You might be guaranteed sun in other countries but constant sunshine can get dull. People move to other countries but often they end up missing the British weather and the seasons.
"There are also some real up sides. When we get unexpected sunshine in the UK everyone's day is better. It just feels like we are getting a special treat and we are so much happier."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24305230

And the forecast is for a sudden change to colder weather in the next day or two... Sad

Posted: 12-10-2013 08:28 Post subject:

Look at the size of this!
(Pics and map on page.)

Cyclone Phailin: Mass evacuations in eastern India
Sanjoy Majumder reports on preparations being made as the cyclone approaches

More than 200,000 people in India are being evacuated as a massive cyclone sweeps through the Bay of Bengal towards the east coast.
Cyclone Phailin, categorised as "very severe" by weather forecasters, is expected to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states on Saturday evening.

The Meteorological Department has predicted the storm will bring winds up to 220 km/h (136mph).

A deadly super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.
But officials say this time they are better prepared, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi reports.
However, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii is forecasting even stronger winds, predicting sustained speeds of up to 269 km/h (167 mph). Shocked

Officials said Cyclone Phailin is expected to make landfall close to the city of Gopalpur (Orissa state), bringing a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was likely to cause "extensive damage" to mud houses on the coast.
"No-one will be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses in the coastal areas,'' said Orissa's Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patra.
The army is on standby in the two states for emergency and relief operations. Officials said helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre predicted that winds could reach 315 km/h, while the London-based Tropical Storm Risk classified Phailin as a Category Five storm - the most powerful.
The Times of India newspaper warned that local meteorologists may be underestimating the severity of the storm.

Meteorologists also say that the storm is not only intense but covers a wide area.

Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea.
Rain and winds are already being felt in Orissa, where authorities said they were setting up shelters for people who would need to be evacuated.
"We are fighting against nature. We are better prepared this time, we learnt a lot from 1999," said Surya Narayan Patra.

Reports said that there had been panic buying in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, with shelves being emptied of food.
"I'm feeling scared and tense. My son is expected to arrive Sunday. Now I think he won't make it," housewife Manjushree Das told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.
In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24487130

Posted: 12-10-2013 11:09 Post subject:

According to the Daily Express we are due the worst winter for deacdes, with record snowfall predicted for November. Bloody marvellous!

Posted: 12-10-2013 11:39 Post subject:

And yet they can't even get the weather right for next week.