NW storm

[Sgeir]

the whole house was shaking, which never happened in any of the previous storms.....

Likewise. And ours is pretty solid - stone built, and over a hundred years old.

 

[Blueboatman]

Met Office observations stating 40s (knots) through the English Channel. That be the mean over 15 minutes I guess?

Blueboatman Observation post says potholders and gimbles engaged to make morning bubbly coffee.
And all seagulls appear grounded until further notice.

 

[BurnitBlue]

Gee Whiz. Violent Storm 30 m/s (Force 11) with 25 seperate warnings issued for Sweden West Coast tonight and tomorrow.

Last time this happened five years ago, whole forests were flattened. The stockpiles of wood from downed trees has only just been cleared.

I have always been surprised at how flimsy the pine tree has on it's grip with the ground. They tower high but with such shallow roots. Looking at the roots of a downed pine tree, one wonders how they actually stand up straight. Huddled together for protection in a forest I suppose.

 

[LADY B]

From the BBC:

Gale force winds have already gusted at 102mph in Edinburgh, 96mph at Salsburgh and Islay, 91 mph in Glasgow, Campbeltown and Drumalbin, 86mph in Oban and 84 mph in Prestwick.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I have always been surprised at how flimsy the pine tree has on it's grip with the ground. They tower high but with such shallow roots. Looking at the roots of a downed pine tree, one wonders how they actually stand up straight. Huddled together for protection in a forest I suppose.

That's because there is precious little in the way of nutrients if the roots go deeper. The rootball is rarely more than a couple of metres deep and usually more like a meter. Without human intervention with chainsaws, blown down trees sometimes continue growing - but in totally different shape - if left to themselves.

 

[SimbaDog]

Just been to boat in Plymouth, never seen it so windy there, so bad couldn't even walk on pontoon, had to crawl
Managed to get on board after about 10 mins in a lull, put instruments on & saw a max of 82knots, only ever seen it like that once before in Greece.
Astounding howling wind, rain & spray.
Boats were been blown over to put their gunwales down to pontoon level

 

[Twister_Ken]

Spoze the one good thing about this blow is that it has been well forecast from several days out.

Also, in the S and E of England at least, it's helping catch up on the rainfall deficit.

 

[BurnitBlue]

That's because there is precious little in the way of nutrients if the roots go deeper. The rootball is rarely more than a couple of metres deep and usually more like a meter. Without human intervention with chainsaws, blown down trees sometimes continue growing - but in totally different shape - if left to themselves.

Yes, thats about it. But trees can grow again. Not bridges.

In Falkenberg, the ships, mothballed for the winter in our local river, broke their chains and they charged (upstream would you believe) at the main road and rail bridges. Fortunitely they ran aground a few metres short of the first road bridge. The local council went ballistic. "Use em or lose em". One of the ships was a large red lightship under repair. Would have made an interesting foto scoop to see a lighthouse in the middle of the road.

Hope this storm swings North soon.

 

[Bav34]

It's just gone really quiet

 

[Twister_Ken]

It's just gone really quiet

And veered W. Front gone through?

 

[Bav34]

Yep. Reckon it'll be NW soon.

At least the windows on BOTH sides of the house will get a wash.


Update

Mrs Bav reports that lounge windows now wet = NW

 

[jimi]

Front has gone through here in Wiltshire

 

[Twister_Ken]

Worth a look at the Meat Orifice's rainfall radar site. Very sharp back edge on the rainfall.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/radar/

 

[Blueboatman]

Someones Firdell radar reflector, complete with brackets, just came sailing past.
Few dodgers and jibs and mobo cockpit enclosures in trouble. One does what one can but, honestly, some of these boats remain unvisited for eons, summer and winter-relying on neighbours and staff to run round and do it for em-or is it an insurance adjustment theyre after that Im not 'getting'-except in next years premiums..

 

[jimi]

http://www.forthroadbridge.org/weather

then the power failed!!

 

[Spyro]

Lost a few tiles this time...... but it sounded terrible early part of this morning in Ayrshire.

I would agree, Worst one yet. And not much of a warning. Only a small mention on ceefax about midnight last night.
Between 8 and 9 this morning the noise was incredible just a huge roar and the roof tiles rattling and banging.
I was called out to work just after 9 this morn and I've never seen so many fallen trees.

 

[Boathook]

A balmy 8 gusting 9 at Bramblemet.

I looked at Hurst Castle earlier and it was still not working.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I would agree, Worst one yet. And not much of a warning. Only a small mention on ceefax about midnight last night.

Eh? Metoffice has been forecasting it for at least three days. Maybe Ceefax is not the best source?

 

[Spyro]

Eh? Metoffice has been forecasting it for at least three days. Maybe Ceefax is not the best source?

They've been saying it's going to be windy but nothing like we've had here. I believe it was only upgraded to a red alert sometime this morn or late last night

 

[Billjratt]

We live in a loft conversion overlooking the sea to the West.
It was effin' noisy early this morning and now we can see why - tiles akimbo, ronepipe shattered and summerhouse roof beginning to shred.
I daren't go to the boat as I'll just be upset, and I bet the hard dinghy I was trying to fix has flown away.
If 2012 is going to be a better year than last, it's got an odd way of showing it.