MAY WHIRLWIND EVENTS
A busy month with ten funnel clouds, plus one unconfirmed and two tornadoes, plus one unconfirmed tn. By comparison last years May saw two tornadoes and two unconfirmed tornadoes, eight funnel clouds and one unconfirmed funnel cloud, and seven waterspouts.
FC 5th May 1427 BST Wattisham, Suffolk. Report sent in by TORRO member Marion Dorian.
FC 9th May 1650 BST Dunblane, Stirling, Scotland. Report sent in by TORRO executive Nigel Bolton.
Conditions were deemed to be type 'C'.
FC 10th May 1350 BST- Newtown, Powys. Duration - 5 minutes (observed). Situation: Rain-free updraught of developing Cb. Obs: stout dark funnel dipping NE towards ground which then thinned, lengthened and twisted chaotically before fading quickly. Photograph available. Source: recorded by John Mason and reported to UKWW.
FC 10th May 1500 BST- Newtown, Powys. Duration - 1 minute. Situation: Rain-free updraught of Cb approaching maturity. Obs: rapid descent 1/2 way to ground of thin vertical rope-like funnel which then broke up and faded. Source: recorded by John Mason and reported to UKWW.
TN 10th May 1630 BST - S Brecon Beacons, Powys (seen from Neath in the direction of Ystradgynlais and by a motorist between Ystradgynlais and Brecon, also between Ystradgynlais and Crynant). Duration: unknown. Situation: TS in vicinity. Obs: one witness (Mel Turner) reported a violent TS with marble hail immediately preceeding it. Source: several including BBC weather site which includes Mel Turner's photograph showing a thin funnel - possibly contacting the ground.
TN 10th May BST 1639 (witness)/Evening (implied by news report) - Pontardawe, W Glamorgan. Duration - 2 minutes (one observer) - many witnesses. Situation: TS in vicinity at time. Obs: long funnel, dark in upper part, white in lower: one witness ("Amanda") report on TORRO message board stated that it was on the ground for 2 minutes. Photograph available. Widely reported e.g. This is South Wales website - with the usual sensationalism!
tn 10th May 1645 BST Pontardawa, Wales. Sent to Matt Cappers web site (http://www.severewx.co.uk) and then forwarded to TORRO.
FC 10th May 1745 BST- Mudeford, nr Bournemouth, Hants (estimated to be over area just ENE of Bournemouth). Duration - 3-4 minutes - 2 witnesses. Situation: NE edge of mature Cb. Obs: classic funnel shape develops into pipelike cloud (1); well formed funnel descends halfway to the ground from wall-cloud - on dissipation wall-cloud becomes ragged (2). Sources: (1) Kerrie Gardner of Bournemouth reporting to TORRO; (2): Rich Byett (CycloMax) - posted to UK Weatherworld. I have grouped these sightings together as I think they involve the same FC.
FC May 11th 1755 BST- Whaddon (Alderbury) near Salisbury. Duration - 15 minutes (observed). Situation: below towering Cu fringing active Cb. Obs: rapid changes in length, repeated regeneration, 1/3 to 1/2 of the distance to ground. Source: Recorded by Keith Mortimore and reported to TORRO.
FC May 11th 1315 BST - Exeter, Devon. Duration - unknown but long enough to be photographed/videoed. Situation: TS in vicinity. Obs: no details. Source: reported un UK SCI Weather message board.
FC May 11th 1328 BST- Killerton (7 miles N of Exeter), Devon. Duration - 10 minutes. Situation: TS in vicinity. Obs: new cells developing on forward edge of large TS, one producing FC prior to commencement of heavy precip. Photo available. Source:(including photograph). Comment: could be related to 1315 Exeter event?
FC May 11th 1630 BST - N Dartmoor, Devon. Duration - unknown. Situation: TS in vicinity. Obs: no details of funnel but within convergence zones with WSW winds on Dartmoor and NE winds in Tiverton. Source: reported to TORRO.
FC May 11th 1645 BST- Lyndhurst area, New Forest, Hants. Duration: 2 minutes. Situation: TS in vicinity. Obs: no details. Source: Reported on Net-weather message board. Source: Reported to Net-weather by student Barnety2000 (username only available) - camcorder foootage obtained.
fc May 30th 17 BST Tiverton, Devon. Observed by Nigel Bolton.
AN OFFICIAL THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY WAS ISSUED 3rd and 4th May for UK and Ireland
Forecaster: (Meteorologist) Paul Knightley.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Due to my absence for much of May storm chasing in the USA I have collated the reports as best as I can.. Please report any omissions or corrections directly to me anthony.gilbert@torro.org.uk and NOT to the mailing list. Thank you.
Credit should be given to TORRO member John Mason for his help in passing the majority of the reports over from other forums.
A busy run of funnel observations for 10th and 11th. The archive soundings instability looked rather minor but all locations showed an influx of dry air above 600mb. A lack of upper shear on all counts might suggest two days of convergence zone funnels associated with a slack depression.
Welcome back all those that have returned in tacked from their storm chase adventures State side. A big congratulations to Mark Humpage, Stuart Robinson and Alistair Chapman for dashing back to tornado alley in time to witness a multiple outbreak across the Plains. Outstanding footage was obtained and has been well sought after by media here and in the USA. Well-done guys (a British team to top it all). We are hoping that the footage and collective weather conditions will make part of the Autumn TORRO meeting in October. My advice DON'T miss it!!
CONVECTION
Reminder:- the 'Convection' publication awaits more papers. TORRO director Alan and executive W http://www.torro.org.uk/TORRO/convection/index.php
MERCHANDISE
Just a quick note. The TORRO T shirts caught the eye of many over in the USA and highlighted our plight to the locals with some good overseas advertisement. I will personally be ordering more kit for myself very soon.
Please Note:- All orders will be processed by Scott, but please allow a few days for acknowledgement. We are currently out of stock on a few items but hope to be sorted very soon. Please contact Scott to check what is available.
http://www.torro.org.uk/TORRO/merchandise.php
SEVERE WEATHER REPORTING
Just to say thank you to all those that posted reports during my absence. Though please do remember that the severe weather report forum is for hail over 20mm, convective gusts over 50kts and tornadoes/funnels. All other reporting to go to severe weather discussions ONLY. In addition to this please put the full location, Penfinnelygogogoth stated merely forces me to have to look each report up separately for the county or country. Please also always add the date, time and any other detail. Thank you
Yours Faithfully
Tony Gilbert (Director and Site Investigation Co coordinator to TORRO)