h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Looks like we might be having a repeat performance, only this time it's going to be in the middle of the night instead of late evening: "The cold front that has been stalled to our north will finally move south overnight triggering some strong to severe Thunderstorms".

I just got home from work and I can hear plentiful thunder so I had a quick butcher's at the radar - lots of reds and purples coming this way on the doppler. Should be here around 3am (it's 2.30 right now). There doesn't seem like much point in going to bed really.

Ooh, that was a loud one. Maybe I should shut the PC down now and unplug it.

Last night's storm was nothing compared to the previous night. Lots of rain and thunder and lightning, but the winds were more like those from an average thunderstorm in these parts. It kept me up until bloody four o'clock though Looks like it dropped around an inch of rain before heading off in Count Zero's direction where I saw tornado watch boxes posted.

It's sunny and warm again today. We're no longer under any awrnings or watches and it looks like the rest of the weekend should be nice

For all the good it'll do me - I'll be stuck in a windowless room slinging beer and sodas for most of it

More rain this evening, but nothing more - just heavy rain for about 15 minutes. There was thunder and lightning off to the north when I looked outside and we may well have had some too, but I was indoors working for most of the time it rained.

Looks like we're about to get hit again. There I was in bed, reading, when there's a huge gust of wind that came out of nowhere and lasted for about 30 seconds. 'Hmm", I thought, 'There's usually only one thing that this means - the outflow boundary of a storm'. So I turned the PC back on and lo! there is a line of storms bearing down us at almost 2am. From the radar it looks like it's weakened somewhat as it's been travelling through the Hill Country and it's just crossed the county line so it should be here soon. I haven't heard any thunder and I've yet to look out the window (I have to put something on in case I frighten the neighbours and they fall into a swoon )

Ah, the rain's arrived already... and yes, there's plenty of lightning off to the north west. Looks like another late night

Oh, and we're under both a severe thunderstorm warning *and* a flash flood warning too - we've had so much rain in the past three or four days that the ground's saturated. I don't expect Cheapo to flood this time but there are some flooded road crossings that have been closed all weekend, and an area of Austin that's still without power following that big one we had a couple of nights ago when the tree came down out back.

We got around another half an inch of rain last night Our yearly total at Camp Mabry is around 8" above normal so far Could be more this afternoon too, and Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I wish the storms wouldn't keep happening at night when I can't see them and when they keep me awake And when I might be coming home from work

I'm sensing a pattern here. I recall that the first winter I was in Austin (1999/2000) was very mild. So was this past winter. The storm season of spring 2000 was particularly active. So is this one turning out to be. The summmer of 2000 was exceptionally hot, culminating in that 112°F/44.4°C day in early September.

It's quite humid today. I was going to say 'muggy' but that might result in somebody saying 'No, it's Choogy today - yesterday was Muggy and tomorrow is Weggy', which a manager I worked under used to say at every conceivable occasion

We've got a moist, unstable atmosphere and a dry line coming this way,so there's a decent chance for some strong to severe storms again this evening. I just hope they don't touch off between 5.30pm and 6.00pm - my umbrella won't be much use in one of those

I think you could safely have said muggy without anyone replying as you described!

Here it started off cool and turned quite warm (20'C ish) later. I have had most of the windows open since I got in and am taking the opportunity to dry some washing outside

It's turning cool again now (7.30pm) but as it hasn't rained I will have to water my new veggie garden later

I probably could have said 'muggy' Jules, but I didn't want to risk it It was funny the first time... it was slightly less funny the second time... it was not funny at all the 20th time

I'm starting to envy your variable weather.

Here in Phoenix, the weather is sunny and hot, with occasional darkness after the hot sun has set.

Yea, but it's a dry dark.

What a difference a day makes!

Tuesday evening/night was like August in Texas - hot and humid. I don't think the temperature fell below 80F/26.7 all night, and when I opened the balcony door and stepped outside on Wed. morning it was like stepping into sauna.

And then a front came through.

Last night we got all the way down to 66/18.9 (at Camp Mabry - according to the downtown weather station it actually dipped below 60) and it was much more pleasant when I opened the door this morning At almost midday it's a balmy 75/23.9 which, by the sound of it, is about the same as it was at Lords this afternoon - CMJ called it a 'golden afternoon'

I think that might have been more because England haven't collapsed as much as anything to do with the weather conditions

Yes... it's wonderful out today. We must enjoy it while we can because from now till September it will be oppressively hot. <-- verbotten smiley used demonstrate sweat not tears.

Yeah We've barely got another couple of weeks of anything approaching comfortable weather before it's as hot as hell in these parts.

I guess this is when I count my lucky whatnots that we think 20'C is warm, over here

*Remembers she's going to the USA in July/August* Ah.

103 by Sunday here.
Blissful. Sun tea, opening the pool, letting the family outside to play...

...thankfully, we have an aloe vera plant on standby for the inevitable burns.

It was almost chilly here this morning The low downtown was 59F/15C, and it got down to 52/11 at Camp Mabry

Should get into the upper 80s (low 30s) this afternoon

Our first 100° forecast of the year.

And tomorrow. And Friday. That's about 10° above normal.

Didn't quite make it - 99° downtown, and a degree or two cooler (cooler? ) at Mabry and the airport. Humid though - very uncomfortable heat index.

Around 25'C here in central England Due to rise to 29'C by Sunday - that's the kind of temperature we Brits seek out when popping off to Europe for our hols !

It meant my first sailing lesson and the cricket match I scored this week were both done in balmy evening conditions