To all Brits ,,,, ARE YOU SAFE ???

Well, I am, thanks for asking, Mirjam - we`re right on the coast between the two rivers` mouths - but other parts of our county have had floods and the northern parts of the country have had REALLY bad floods, with two deaths. A whole village was evacuated as there is a danger of a dam bursting (it has sprung a few big leaks already) and they`ve had to close part of the M1 motorway in case it DOES go.

There have been a few mini tornadoes around, too.

They are saying that we have had three times the normal rainfall for the month of June in one night - and more rain expected over the next few days and the weekend.

My son is off to Derbyshire on holiday next week, although, since it`s been quite badly hit, I don`t know if they`ll still be going.

How about you, Shirley? Are you OK? We`re so lucky, here in East Anglia - we`re the driest part of the country. Even so, we have had some pretty horrendous downpours!

Pat

Pat, You have probably never heard of him, but Piers Corbyn lives in the UK, and does unofficial waether forecasting. From Piers, and I quote "In the immediate future any rain this weekned will not be especially heavy (in this case the Met Office computers will underestimate rain amounts) but there will be notably heavy rain and thunderfloods around July 4th-5th and 9th-10th (each give or take a day). " It will be interesting to see if Piers is, in fact, accurate.

In message , Pat P writes

We are okay Pat, but the valley a mile away from us is flooded. Chesterfield also is flooded and we have been advised not to travel. The M1 To Sheffield is closed. Good thing I do not need to go to The Northern general hospital. We live 640feet above sea level. We had one months rainfall in 24 hours and more expected at the weekend. The garden looks a real soggy mess and the roses have been decimated.

Where about in Derbyshire is your son going? Thanks for asking Shirley

No significant rain up here for a week or two. I think South Yorkshire got most of our rain. But I was brought up in the Peak District, not far from Kinder Reservoir, so if I still lived in Hayfield I'd be a bit concerned right now...

Oh dear - just right for my birthday - and for Richard`s holiday in Derbyshire. At least they`ve hired a cottage up near the castle in Castleton, so they shouldn`t get flooded once they`re actually there. They were going to walk part of the Pennine way though, and it doesn`t bode well for that. Kinder Scout will be pretty boggy!

ANY rain this weekend will be too much, especially up North and in the West!

Pat

Pat

I'd happily accept it here in Baltimore - specifically, right over my house! It's very dry...in spite of several thunderstorm watches that have brought thunder, but no rain. Yesterday DH and I went out to lunch at a new Indian restaurant (OT: yum!) about 1/2 mile from home, and it was pouring like cats and dogs outside the restaurant when we left. Got home, and nuthin'. It rumbled and rumbled for an hour, and barely a drop of rain fell in our yard.

And that's happened several times in the past few weeks. A deluge on the northwest side of the city, and nothing in the north-central side.

We're in a nasty heat wave, and thunderstorms predicted every night. Whether they actually do materialize is another matter.

Sue

Thanks for asking, Mirjam. Oxford is not affected, nor have we been issued with flood warnings. But our flood plain, Port Meadow, looks very like a river. This morning started sunny, which was just as well, as I had a driving lesson. Now, as I type this note, there is steady downpour, which becomes torrential every now and then. All this has one good effect on my stitching - I can't go cycling or walking, so I've learnt to do hemstitching (about which I had inquired a few weeks ago).

Shanti, in a very damp 18th century cottage!

It`s come at a terrible time for wildlife, too.

Pat

Pat P wrote: > Very stormy looking this afternoon - just a heavy shower though (Suffolk`s

It happened again yesterday! In the late afternoon, I had to run down to church on an errand - a block away - and it was full sun at that moment, but I brought an umbrella to be safe. Well, 1/2 hour later, there was a huge CRACK/rumble, rumble, and I was glad I'd brought the umbrella, even though when I left I didn't need it. Looked like the sky would open as I hurriedly walked home, and then....nothing! A half hour of serious rumbling, nary a drop of rain.

Storms promised again this afternoon, after which a cool front will come in. And after three days of 90-plus temps with 90-plus humidity, that will be blessed relief. Can't wait to turn off the AC tonight and open the windows! (though one benefit of the AC/closed windows is I've been sleeping later the past few mornings, without the @*#%!% birds waking me up!)

sue

You could be writing this from my house in Florida. Your description of weather is exactly what we've been having and describes what I think perfectly, except for the turning off the air conditioner part. Mine won't be turned off until at least November.

Lucille

Pat

We`ve a severe weather warning again for this weekend - particularly in those parts that are already flooded, poor souls. My weeds are growing like crazy, but at least with all the rain we`ve had this month, they`re fairly easy to pull out - between the showers!!! It`s been quite chilly lately, too - particularly at night. Even snow in the Scottish mountains.

Pat

In message , Pat P writes

I hope it stuck to the thief's fingers Pat. Umbrellas are much needed up here where it is raining again. Hope I can get the shopping done before the roads flood again.

Not only the rain but Somerfield super market in Chesterfield burnt down yesterday. Shirley

They`ll hardly dare use it in her village - it`s a very prominent blue and white one with Finnish writing on it. It was given to John by some Shipping company when he was in Helsinki some years ago!

Funny how often places burn down when it`s been bucketing down with rain. I suppose the terrible rain could have caused a short circuit somewhere!

I think we`ll just batten down the hatches, even in pretty dry Suffolk, looking at the forecast. John`s just taken the dog out before it starts.

As for Richard - his holiday spots often seem doomed by flood. One of their favourite places is Boscastle - and they`ve just been flooded again!!!

Pat

Just what I was thinking. In the weather oddities of late, it has reminded me of childhood in FLA. We always had those sunshowers - one side of the street and not the other - or they'd come and go so suddenly.

Here - it poured for a while by the shop in Vienna, so we left after 8, waiting for just a drizzle. Then it was fine for about 5 miles as I drove home, then a total nearly blinding storm for the next 4-5 miles, then nothing, then just rain, then nothing, then drizzle. But, even though cooler than 90 it was still too muggy, and likely in the high 70s - so the AC stayed on.

DH definitely would rather pay the electric bill than have the really humid feel in the house.

Ellice