Date: 05-08-2004
Time: 17:59 BST
Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire UK
Type: Multicell (produced by a gust front)
Documented by: Mark Seltzer
Equipment: Samsung VP-H65 Video Camera
Fujifilm FinePix A310 Digital Camera
Footage Quality: VHS, DIGI

Storm Statistics: T0051.doc
Event Timeline: T0051events.xls

A typical set-up here for the UK where a warm front approaches from the west creating strong mid-level instability ahead of it overland in warm and moist air. As the surface heating got going after lunchtime some explosive convection began. Upper-level forcing was evident when the cells broke out across the south and west midlands as they marched NNW-wards at a considerable pace. The outbreak took a long while to approach the northwest area, but eventually it did.

The first cell approached the Pennines and rolled just to the east of Macclesfield. Its high cloud-base confirmed when it dropped a C-G which appeared close but wasn’t after waiting a while for the thunder. The thunders were generally of low-amp nature surprisingly from a high-based storm, but some mid-amp thunders were mixed in.

There were some excellent C-C discharges amongst following cells, and the last cell gave some nice I-C as the daylight faded lighting up a lower cloud-base.

DUNDEE SATELLITE IMAGES (CREDITS)
VISIBLE 05.08.2004 16:04
VISIBLE 05.08.2004 16:04 + Grid
INFRARED 05.08.2004 16:04
INFRARED 05.08.2004 16:04 + Grid
COLOUR 05.08.2004 16:04
COLOUR 05.08.2004 16:04 + Grid