Thursday 31 January 2008

Thursday notes

Had a very wild night, which saw the windows flexing under the force of the winds. Rain was pouring down as well, with more water than anything else in the atmosphere. Temperatures are set to decrease, with snow on the hills and maybe even down to sealevel. Conditions in mainland Scotland will be atrocious overnight, as another severe gale will spring up, causing drifting of lying snow. The forecast for inshore waters, up to 12 miles from the coast, mentions winds of force 10 or 11 through today. The result is that not many ferry services are running according to schedule, if at all.

The storm, which will affect the whole of the UK through today, has already claimed one life. A lorrydriver died when his vehicle was blown over on the M6 motorway near Tebay early this morning. Dozens of other lorries [semis to American readers] were also blown onto their sides in gusts reaching 70 to 80 mph in places. Rail and road travel have been severely disrupted in the north of England, with police advising not to travel unless it's absolutely essential.

Still on the weatherfront, Mauritius and La Reunion have dodged a silver bullet. Tropical cyclone Gula was eroded by the proximity of tropical cyclone Fame, southwest of La Reunion, meaning it is now a strong tropical storm which will NOT directly affect either island. Tropical cyclone Gene meanwhile is set to pass east of New Caledonia on Friday. By that I mean Friday my time; it will be Saturday morning local time. New Caledonia is 12 hours ahead of my timezone, GMT.




10 comments:

  1. It has been a terrible night here on the East coast and a terrible morning too.The sun is just trying to peak, but the rain and wind have been realy bad.Puddles like lakes again.Brrr r it is very very cold.I have been for a short walk for supplies of bread and milk.Just to be on the safe side,but I was soon back home LOL!!Take Care Stay Safe.God Bless Kath astoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES

    ReplyDelete
  2. It has been horrendous here in Northants as well, everything blowing around the garden but it has calmed down now.....but for how long?!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We are having a winter storm watch tonight into tomorrow.
    Hope we don't lose power-I hate that
    Be safe-be warm
    ~c~

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hope the weather calms down in the new month; you've had some rough weather these past few weeks

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  5. I the weather is better soon. That reminds me so much of the hurricanes in Florida. Very nerve racking! Stay safe!  Phyllis

    ReplyDelete
  6. Eeek, I would be a bit unnerved watching the windows flex - happy you made it through the storm.  I heard reports of a few trucks being blown off the road around here yesterday as we had high winds too, but brilliant sunshine.  
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well.  After I complained to you about wanting some crazy weather myself, I got it.  
    Today is trash pick up, so we had our bins right at the sidewalk.  'Had' being the key word.  No idea where they've blown off to by now.  Looks like we'll be making a trip to the home store....LOL

    ~Amy

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thankfully Guedo Wiltshire has been saved from the dreadful weather...so far....We had gales last night and heavy rain for about a couple of hours this mroning but dry since then.   Keep wrapped up.  Love Sybil x

    ReplyDelete
  9. It`s been dreadful here today too Guido, quite a change from yesterday which was warm and sunny. From what I hear tomorrow may be even worse. :o(

    Love Sandra xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes its been wild here in the Lake District.  Tebay is not that far as the crow flies from here.
    On returning from work this afternoon was I glad to just get indoors as we were hit by high winds blowing  snow horizontally right up our hill.  I have never seen anything like it in my lifetime.  Weird stuff!
    We had trees fall across the main road.  Snow is expected to fall around 4 inches tomorrow. Isn't it strange that so many of us are experiencing such high winds and snow or the prospects of snow with high winds.  
    Oh well....bunker down everybody.
    Your windows buckling was rather scary.  That was some power to do that.
    You must get the brunt of most weather living so close to the water's edge.
    Jeanie

    ReplyDelete