Date: 31-08-1997
Time: 14:22 BST
Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire UK
Type: Convectional Multicell
Documented by: Mark Seltzer
Equipment: Samsung VP-H65 Video Camera
Footage Quality: VHS

Storm Statistics: T0008.doc
Event Timeline: T0008events.xls

This storm was the strongest daytime storm of the year for Macclesfield. It showed up on the precipitation radar as a big orange/red blob about 25 miles in diameter as it moved northwards, a very large cell. The rain was forced down by very strong downdrafts and most of the lightning was at the back of the storm. There was one very strong C-C, possibly accompanied with a C-G, that discharged very close by and gave a very loud thunder.

It was grey and drizzly all day in a warm sector, but the storm occurred on the following cold front in a squall-line fashion marking the line where the bright weather was coming in behind it. The thunderhead became visible before showers packed in closely behind it and the storm was starting to grow huge new cells at the back, but as it went away it fell completely silent with no distant rumbles heard.

The lightning wasn't very well filmed on camera due to the fact most of it was happening to the south, and the rain was so intense in a southerly that I didn't want to risk getting the camera wet by pointing it in that direction. Another reason for not seeing the lightning very well, apart from daytime brightness, was the thick and dense rain-curtains making reducing the visibility and making it difficult to see any overhead C-C. If this storm was at night-time instead it would have been very spectacular.

DUNDEE SATELLITE IMAGES (CREDITS)
VISIBLE 31.08.1997 14:16
INFRARED 31.08.1997 14:16
COLOUR 31.08.1997 14:16