FOREWORD
Filming thunderstorms in the UK has produced some fantastic footage and captured some of the best elements thunderstorms have to offer. These shots are a real eye-opener for fellow Brits who are not aware that most of the weedy British storms we get can actually be very photogenic. Samples of UK footage are here on show and capture the real essence of British storms.

Most of the footage was shot using standard high-street Hi-8 video camera, therefore some of the screen grabs on older storms may not be up to much quality, for example low resolution and discolouring of the lightning on night-time storms (i.e. pink/purple; lightning isn't naturally pink/purple unless filtered by the atmosphere, tends to be white/blue). However in 2006 and onwards most storms have been shot using digital media which have provided much higher picture quality, and more recently in 2011, a full HD video camera, featuring some real storms shot in the US.

LAST UPDATED: 09/11/2011
T#### = Thunderstorm Number (Vicinity)
PS#### = Passing Storm Number (Distant)
F#### = Funnel/Tornado event with no thunder
Blue Text = Rated "Storm of the Year"
Green Text = Tornadic event

HD = Full HD 1920x1080 16:9 Video (high quality)
SD = Standard Definition 4:3 Video (medium quality)
VHS = VHS/Hi-8 Video (low quality)

DSLR = DSLR 10MP photographs
DIGI = 3MP digital photographs

2011 coming soon     
Again, with a shortage of Spanish Plumes, southwest England was left to produce home-grown convection, which isn't usually that good. So I went to the states to hunt down some real storms (coinciding with one of the few plumey events to hit SW England in May).
T0080 - HD, DSLR - 12-05-2011 - ##:## - E Oklahoma nr Salisaw, USA - Huge plume and squall line MCS that we chased for 6 hours.
T0079 - HD, DSLR - 10-05-2011 - ##:## - Central E Oklahoma, USA - Frontal multicell passing in the distance.
T0078 - HD, DSLR - 08-05-2011 - ##:## - Wichita Falls, NW Texas, USA - Low precip, high based, huge CAPE dryline multicell.
T0077 - HD, DSLR - 01-05-2011 - ##:## - NE Texas, USA - Isolated rotating supercell with dangerous positive C-G lightning.
T0076 - HD, DSLR - 01-05-2011 - ##:## - Denton Texas, USA - Frontal Thunderstorm with heavy rain.
T0075 - SD, DSLR - 23-04-2011 - 15:00 - Devon, Tiverton - Isolated high-CAPE singlecell

2009/10               
No storm footage these years
(deficit of active convection and plumes to affect SW England).

2008 coming soon           
I am now no longer based in Macclesfield and have moved to Hampshire near the central south of England. It's not going brilliantly so far! been very quiet in the south for thunderstorm activity with the Jet-stream sinking into the continent (as last year)...
T0074 - SD, DSLR - 12-08-2008 - 16:30 - W. Wiltshire - Dramatic squall-line storm with C-Cs
T0073 - SD, DSLR - 28-07-2008 - 21:30 - W. Berkshire - Heat of the day widely destabilised air-mass

2007 coming soon           

Storm season kicked off early with T0068 in March with a wintry hail shower, then.... not a lot really. The handful of storms Macclesfield experienced this year were weak-affairs from showers. Strong heating never took hold this summer as the jet-stream never got that far north of the UK, so limited fuel for monster storms. The year ended on an active note however with T0072 producing some distant but photogenic multi-C-G discharges.
T0072 - 08-07-2007 - 18:30 - Macclesfield - Multiple C-G producer seen from a distance to the north
T0071 - 01-07-2007 - 12:20 - Macclesfield - A couple of C-Gs from an isolated cell
T0070 - 22-06-2007 - 19:00 - Macclesfield - Odd lightning from a weakly developing cell
T0069 - 31-05-2007 - 15:00 - Macclesfield - Strong but isolated convection produces some lightning
T0068 - SD, DIGI - 18-03-2007 - 18:10 - Macclesfield - Early electrified sleet and hail storm

2006                    

Plenty of storms this year including many C-G generators. Introducing this year a semi-professional digital video camera for T0064+. I was unavailable to film a few of the storms but most of the bigger ones to hit Macclesfield were documented. There was an absence of night time storms this year which is a blow, however warm weather in October meant the storm season extended into Autumn, an unusual occurrence for the North West.
T0067 - SD, DIGI - 21-10-2006 17:19 - Macclesfield - Another late thunderstorm with beautiful cloud formations
T0066 - SD, DIGI - 11-10-2006 08:15 - Macclesfield - Fairly active cold front spins up some electrical storms
T0065 - SD, DIGI - 01-10-2006 16:40 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified storm cell rolls over Pennines
PS0007 - 11-09-2006 20:12 - Macclesfield - Active storm over Pennines, Heat-Lightning observed
T0064 - 23-08-2006 16:40 - Macclesfield - A Low-centre hook produces a torrential slow mover
T0063 - 20-07-2006 04:00 - Macclesfield - Hottest UK July day ever (37C) fuelled this distant storm
T0062 - VHS, DIGI - 06-07-2006 04:50 - Macclesfield - Very loud initiation discharge (missed) then dissipated
T0061 - VHS, DIGI - 02-07-2006 16:50 - Macclesfield - Explosive development but steady activity with C-Gs
T0060 - VHS, DIGI - 12-06-2006 07:18 - Macclesfield - Active C-G striker directly overhead
T0059 - VHS, DIGI - 16-05-2006 18:00 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified but with a few close C-Cs

2005                    

Not impressed with my personal timing this year. I missed a few exceptional storms in Macclesfield due to driving the breadth of the country (T0055) and revelling the joys of full-time work. Unfortunately the "storm of the year" title had to go to one that I have no footage of, but it left its mark on much of Central England and the news. I also missed the beginnings of T0058 which would have proven worthy of filming if I had got to it in time after work....sigh.
T0058 - 31.08.2005 15:54 - Macclesfield - Very large active C-G generator (half missed)
T0057 - VHS, DIGI - 25-08-2005 17:09 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified with odd discharges
T0056 - VHS, DIGI - 28-06-2005 21:21 - Macclesfield - Frontal night-time storm with torrential rain
T0055 - 19-06-2005 Afternoon - Macclesfield - Large heavy-duty thunderstorms (no footage)

2004                    

Back on track this year with some good storms documented. Kicking off with a picturesque wintry cell, then some excellent night-time C-C action from a slow-moving T0049 (in the same league as T0011 and T0024) where it's entire lifecycle of birth and death was documented. A small shooting vortex was then spotted in the distance with F0001, and finishing off with another picturesque cell with a huge arcus-cloud formation (T0054). It was almost a coin-toss between T0049 and T0054 for "storm of the year", but T0049 won it on thunder and lightning.
T0054 - VHS, DIGI - 18-08-2004 19:20 - Macclesfield - Proceeding T0053 came this active, photogenic cell
T0053 - VHS, DIGI - 18-08-2004 16:20 - Macclesfield - Organised line of showers with mixed storms
T0052 - VHS, DIGI - 12-08-2004 17:19 - Macclesfield - Afternoon shower storm with big towers and C-Gs
T0051 - VHS, DIGI - 05-08-2004 17:59 - Macclesfield - Large but quiet storm with good C-G and C-C
T0050 - VHS - 03-08-2004 02:05 - Macclesfield - Night-time storm with a few C-Cs
F0001 - VHS - 10-07-2004 10:37 - Macclesfield - Tornadic event - small shooting vortex spotted
T0049 - VHS - 07-07-2004 01:09 - Macclesfield - Highly active and loud night-time C-C producer
T0048 - VHS, DIGI - 06-07-2004 21:54 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified cell with one awesome C-C
T0047 - VHS, DIGI - 02-04-2004 18:07 - Macclesfield - Pretty slow-developing small cell with C-C

2003                    

Minimal storms filmed this year as I was in Reading, Berkshire for much of the spring and summer reading Meteorology at university. However whilst I was down there I managed to film an absolute belter from the balcony of my hall of residence. The discharge rate was so high the thunder was continuous for at least 5 minutes (see T0045).
T0046 - VHS - 17-07-2003 07:23 - Macclesfield - Random discharge from a morning storm
T0045 - VHS - 13-05-2003 16:27 - Reading - Proceeding T0044 came this extremely active cell
T0044 - VHS - 13-05-2003 15:30 - Reading - Sharp showers, odd discharges here and there
PS0006 - VHS - Winter/Spring 2003 - Reading - Distant passing storm with good lightning

2002                    

Another quiet year (from my point of view anyway) as I went away for an entire month in July and missed a few of absolute monster storms. What I did capture was a photogenic passing storm, a strange moderate shower cell with elongated C-C, and a cracking multiple-storm-cell cluster with some good lightning and cloud shots.
T0043 - VHS - 03-08-2002 07:23 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified storm with one close C-G
T0042 - VHS - 02-06-2002 18:10 - Macclesfield - Fantastic multi-storm cluster with C-Gs
T0041 - VHS - 13-05-2002 15:30 - Macclesfield - Moderate showers, odd discharges here and there
PS0005 - VHS - 26-02-2002 18:09 - Macclesfield - Spectacular cumulonimbus lighting up like a bulb

2001                    

This year seemed to be a quiet one in the Macclesfield area. However like last year it ended on a good storm with plenty of visible strikes.
T0040 - VHS - 15-08-2001 18:29 - Macclesfield - An active C-G generator with 2 Cells
T0039 - VHS - 15-08-2001 04:00 - Macclesfield - Surprise short-lived early morning storm with C-Cs
T0038 - VHS - 04-08-2001 15:17 - Macclesfield - Large updraft base creates photogenic C-Gs
T0037 - VHS - 15-06-2001 14:16 - Macclesfield - Odd C-G discharge from a fast-moving cell

2000                    

This year sees some standard UK storm season action, nothing too spectacular. Starting off with a few bits and bobs from local cells and ending with a vicious evening-time C-G-rich deluge.
T0036 - VHS  - 26-08-2000 19:15 - Macclesfield - An aggressive torrential flash-storm with close C-G
T0035 - VHS - 26-08-2000 04:00 - Macclesfield - Highly active night-time storm, similar to T0026
T0034 - VHS - 21-08-2000 14:00 - Macclesfield - Impressive C-Cs from a slow moving cell
T0033 - VHS - 29-07-2000 11:00 - Macclesfield - Aggressive developer with a nice C-G strike
T0032 - VHS - 02-07-2000 18:20 - Macclesfield - Large updraught-base, heavy rain and some C-Cs
T0031 - VHS - 04-06-2000 02:03 - Macclesfield - Odd sheet lightning from a frontal storm

1999                    

This year sees some more surprising action around Macclesfield; a strong mesocyclone produced by proceeding cells of T0027, which lead to produce a multi-vortex funnel. T0022 produced some excellent thunder from off-camera C-Gs. Also some astonishing lightning displays from T0024, sporting long C-C spider lightning and anvil-crawlers.
T0030 - VHS - 22-09-1999 16:00 - Macclesfield - Autumn cell producing some late-season activity
T0029 - VHS - 18-08-1999 13:25 - Macclesfield - Dissipating C-G storm with mushroom thunderhead
T0028 - VHS - 16-08-1999 16:40 - Macclesfield - Illusive dry-cell with hardy any precipitation along base
T0027 - VHS - 05-08-1999 14:08 - Macclesfield - 2 cells, one featuring a Multi-Vortex Funnel Cloud
PS0004 - VHS - 02-08-1999 21:37 - Macclesfield - Distant passing storm with a C-G strike
PS0003 - VHS - 04-06-1999 22:40 - Macclesfield - Very distant cumulonimbus lighting up
T0026 - VHS - 02-06-1999 23:33 - Macclesfield - Highly active (but fairly distant) night-time storm
T0025 - VHS - 02-06-1999 13:45 - Macclesfield - Dissipating daytime C-C generator
T0024 - VHS  - 28-05-1999 00:15 - Macclesfield - Beautiful C-C spider-lightning & anvil-crawlers
T0023 - VHS - 10-05-1999 16:30 - Macclesfield - Hail shower with thunder and thunderhead
T0022 - VHS - 07-05-1999 16:25 - Macclesfield - Loud C-G generator (much C-G off-camera)

1998                    

This year sees some great action from a variety of thunderstorm styles, including T0011 with a seriously explosive thunder. Then, T0014 revealed that it was rotating tightly and produced a funnel cloud that appeared to touch down briefly. T0019 gave a good hail shower and some active C-G strikes, and T0020 and T0021 proving that lightning can still happen in north-west England so late in the year.
T0021 - VHS - 29-10-1998 17:43 - Macclesfield - After-dark storm with I-C and a Positive Flash
T0020 - VHS - 29-10-1998 10:57 - Macclesfield - Late autumn shower with C-C multi-discharge
T0019 - VHS - 12-09-1998 12:01 - Macclesfield - Active hailstorm producing C-G below arcus cloud
T0018 - 09-09-1998 13:03 - Macclesfield - Torrential downpour producing C-G (missed)
T0017 - VHS - 17-07-1998 18:20 - Macclesfield - Passing cell with a few distant discharges
T0016 - VHS - 17-07-1998 17:05 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified distant cell, a few distant thunders
T0015 - VHS - 27-06-1998 12:00 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified distant cell, one C-C discharge
T0014 - VHS - 15-06-1998 15:25 - Macclesfield - Torrential compact Supercell with a Funnel Cloud
T0013 - VHS - 06-06-1998 18:00 - Macclesfield - Follow-up cell to T0012, more compact, low-amp C-Cs
T0012 - VHS - 06-06-1998 17:10 - Macclesfield - Torrential rain the theme of this storm - really heavy
T0011 - VHS  - 08-05-1998 23:55 - Macclesfield - Phenomenal thunder and night-time C-Cs
T0010 - VHS - 28-04-1998 20:45 - Macclesfield - Illusive distant cell with incredible C-C displays
T0009 - VHS - 27-04-1998 18:20 - Macclesfield - Weakly developing cells, one missed C-C
PS0002 - 22-04-1998 21:45 - Macclesfield - Very very distant cell with high activity (no footage)

1997                    

The third year spotting sees the arrival of a Hi-8 analogue video camera and some lightning images at last, and I set out in hope of capturing some images. The first streak I captured was from T0004, a double C-C discharge, then T0005 brought some night-time C-Gs. Ps0001 was a passing storm which was quite spectacular giving a display of P-Fs and C-As.
PS0001 - VHS - 12-09-1997 20:15 - Macclesfield - Distant isolated cell with P-Fs and C-As
T0008 - VHS - 31-08-1997 14:22 - Macclesfield - Highly active but not much visible lightning
T0007 - VHS - 08-06-1997 15:00 - Macclesfield - Loud, very wet cell with some C-C
T0006 - VHS - 20-05-1997 20:00 - Macclesfield - Distant convectional cell cluster with C-G
T0005 - VHS - 18-05-1997 03:35 - Macclesfield - Continental night-time storm with C-G
T0004 - VHS - 10-05-1997 14:10 - Macclesfield - First video of a storm with first C-C shot

1996                    

The second year of storm spotting also, unfortunately, involved my tape recorder. The first major storm was T0002 which had a total active duration in Macclesfield of over 3 hours consisting of multiple cells. I audio recorded this storm and still have some of the good thunder on cassette (now converted to MP3). The second storm T0003 was an active daytime C-G generator. Again, no footage or audio recordings were retained apart from a photo of the cloud-base in the distance.
T0003 - 23-08-1996 14:00 - Macclesfield - Distant active C-G generator (no footage)
T0002 - 07-06-1996 20:45 - Macclesfield - Highly active night-time storm (audio-taped)

1995                    

First year of storm spotting, however without a video camera (and as I was only 12 years old) I was limited to using a tape recorder! Previously I would be glued to the window during any passing storm, until one day I started documenting the thunder hoping to capture an almighty loud crash. I only ended up taping one storm for 1995 (T0001), however I no longer have the tape and don't have any audio samples to offer. I still logged it as T0001 and so it debuts the beginning of a string of thunderstorms to come.
T0001 - 24-05-1995 16:00 - Macclesfield - Weakly electrified cell