"Knowledge is wasted if it is not shared......"

Ever wondered why storms happen? Why lightning happens or why storms look the way they do? What causes thunder and why some crackle and some bang? This page holds my personal interpretations of the processes of thunderstorms on a basic level.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
(topics with thumbs are up & running)

THUNDERSTORMS                   

THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT

THUNDERSTORM CLOUD BASES (GUST FRONTS, ARCUS CLOUDS, UPDRAUGHT SHELVES, THE "WHALES MOUTH" FORMATION and HIGH-BASED)
Know your cloud bases inside-out, as it is often the only part of a thunderstorm you'll see.

Arcus clouds (and the Whales Mouth formation) hide C-C and I-C lightning behind the lip of the gust front, can produce high discharge rates of low-amp nature. If C-G strikes occur they often look distant when really they are close due to the low cloud.

LIGHTNING FORMATION
Static build-up
Stepped leader theory
Positive streamers
Degree of Influence rule



I-D - Initiation Discharge (first lightning of a thunderstorm, often observed in high-amp nature)
Sprites, Elves and Jets - phenomena that occur in the upper atmosphere above a thunderstorm
V-L - Volcanic Lightning (usually seen within huge ash-clouds or directly near the eruption point, often very high amp and strange in shape)



TORNADOES & MESOCYCLONES

PRECIPITATION




PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS                   

CHASING TIPS (mainly UK)
The right conditions, at the right location, at the right time can make the difference to a successful and failed storm-chase.

LIGHTNING HOTSPOTS
After good lightning shots? Type of storm (high-based) and position here are key.

TORNADIC / UPDRAUGHT HOTSPOTS
After a tornado? Focus on the main feeding point of a thunderstorm.

BASIC EQUIPMENT
Cameras, Tripods, Sat-Nav, mobile internet with laptop and you're ready to go.


UK THUNDERSTORM INFO                   

BREEDS OF UK THUNDERSTORMS

THUNDERSTORM HOTSPOT AREAS

SPOTTING THUNDERSTORMS ON RADAR & SATELLITE

PAST EVENTS