Thunderstorms in the West Country - May and June 2026 - ongoing

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Hope that the railway doesn't end up in the firing line for these: there's a lot of energy in the atmosphere.

Swindon's made the first move as the urban area seems to have cooked up its very own thunderstorm.

Mark

https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=ses;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=11;y=51.5848;x=-1.8794;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

[bobm]

Very localised in Swindon.  Someone barely a mile away from me had thunder and torrential rain.  Nothing here for another hour.

Also looks to triggered four power cuts across the town.

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is a cracking thunderstorm over Melksham now, with hailstones like golf balls also belting down.

[JohnM]

We're just down the road in Whitley, and yes, it woke me up at about 1:50. But it was 'just' heavy rain I think and a pretty impressive light show. Only distant thunder; wouldn't like to have been in the middle of it. I left the house early this morning; my wife texted me to say she had heard about the hail from a friend in Melksham, and was going to go out and check the cars later. Certainly lots of greenery on the pavements as I got closer to the station.

[JohnM]

Melksham News report https://melkshamnews.com/giant-hailstones-cause-damage-across-melksham/

Giant hailstones have caused damage to homes and vehicles across Melksham after a storm in the early hours of this morning, 28th May.
Residents reported being woken by loud noises as hailstones, described as being the size of small rocks and close to golf balls, battered properties across the town.

In Bowerhill, resident Sam Cox said his conservatory roof had been left covered in dents and holes after being struck by the hailstones.
“We are totally shocked with what damage was caused,” he said. “There are holes all over our large conservatory. We are now in the process of having to get quotes to repair the extensive damage.”

Other residents reported dented cars and smashed greenhouses following the storm.
One resident said, “I was woken by loud noises, went outside to be hit by hailstones just slightly smaller than the size of golf balls. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

[Mark A]

The problem with hail is that the growth of hailstones isn't self-limiting in the same way as e.g. raindrops and the (vaguely controlled) upper size limit is on a completely different part of the weight-scale. The nature of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s weather has changed with conditions emerging that results in the likelihood of hailstorms delivering 'Unreasonable'-sized hailstones. This poses a challenge for anything that's not previously been tested in this way.

Mark

**Unreasonable from the point of view of e.g. a greenhouse, flat roof, car body, unprotected head etc etc.

[Marlburian]

For West Reading over the past few days there've been thunderstorm warnings with low percentage chances, but these have been progressively reduced.  This morning there was just a little evidence of a light overnight shower.

I wouldn't mind some steady overnight rain as my front lawn has almost recovered from last year's dry weather but I can see it becoming a disgrace again if we have another dry summer.


Meanwhile over in Kent there are problems with the water supply.

[JohnM]

My wife tells me she's been hearing how extensive the damage is to people's property (in Melksham, 2 miles from us), and it's Act of God so not covered by insurance. Someone has been given a £3k quote to remove 60 dents from their car's roof

[Mark A]

June 22nd: just about a month later than the storms that prompted this thread, reports of an area of thunderstorms making their way up into and through Cornwall - and may be through Bristol around 6pm.

Mark

https://www.lightningmaps.org/

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for your post, Mark.

I have expanded the heading of this topic accordingly, and I will now 'batten down the hatches', lest our new arrival (a kitten, actually looking rather like a tiger cub) is phased by the noise and flickering.

[Mark A]

Seems to be about the size of half a county and producing ~150 strikes per minute and I think yr kitten will be hearing rumbles now as it's landed one near Yatton.

Mark

[Mark A]

It's upped the strike rate to ~450 per minute and the associated area of heavy rain has somewhat grown. I'm off to check a couple of drains for obstructions.

Mark

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, we now have some thunder and serious rain here in Nailsea as I type. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Now some serious thunder and some very serious rain here in Nailsea.

[Western Pathfinder]

I don’t think I’m going to have to water my veg patch this evening,water butts are filling up nicely.