Date: 18-08-2004
Time: 16:48 BST
Location: Macclesfield, Cheshire UK
Type: Multicell
Documented by: Mark Seltzer
Equipment: Samsung VP-H65 Video Camera
Fujifilm FinePix A310 Digital Camera
Footage Quality: VHS, DIGI

Storm Statistics: T0053.doc
Event Timeline: T0053events.xls

This storm was just starting to move in after I’d got in from work. It was moving in quite quickly and on first impressions was obvious to anyone it was going to do something in terms of thunder and lightning by looking at the dark rain curtain moving in. There was strong prominence of the updraft in front of the rain curtain along the base. The parent weather system creating the weather was the signature of ex-hurricane Bonnie, and it still had some energy contained within it behind the cold front as the low pressure filled in. This storm was one of two it produced in this afternoon in the Macclesfield area (T0054 came just a couple of hours after with a vengeance).

This storm was difficult to film as it didn’t really do much visibly under the base. The C-Cs were plenty but of low to mid-amp nature and were barely visible within the rain curtains and daylight. However the discharge rate was good with an overall average of only 54 seconds. This storm patrolled northwards along a band of fast-moving storms and was visible in the distance. However the show wasn’t over when T0054 followed in behind proving to be a lot more spectacular.

DUNDEE SATELLITE IMAGES (CREDITS)
VISIBLE 18.08.2004 15:44
VISIBLE 18.08.2004 15:44 + Grid
INFRARED 18.08.2004 15:44
INFRARED 18.08.2004 15:44 + Grid
COLOUR 18.08.2004 15:44
COLOUR 18.08.2004 15:44 + Grid

T0053 was embedded in the arc of convection seen across the Midlands, whilst T0054 is shown brewing in a new line of convection positioned western Wales.