7th May 2012 Supercell

A supercell moved across some central parts of England today, with numerous reports of hail from the cell, and a few reports of tornadoes also. All times are BST (local time).

The first signs of the cell appear on the radar around 12:20BST over Honiton. The cell gradually drifted northeastwards across Somerset, progressively gaining intensity. Radar data suggests the cell started to develop supercellular characteristics with a notable high-shear echo around 14:40 as it crossed northern parts of Wiltshire and the M4, west/southwest of Swindon.
The supercell then moved northeastwards, crossing the A419 south of Cricklade around 15:15, and significantly intensifying on approach to Lechlade around 15:40 with radar returns indicating rainfall rates up to 100mm/hr. 

The storm continued to move northeastwards, crossing Witney/A40 between 16:05-16:20, and Oxford/Kidlington Airport around 16:40. Some slight eastward shift to the SW-NE path thus far started to become apparent as the storm crossed the M40 between junctions 9 and 10 around 16:50, passing over and to the north Bicester.

Continuing to move NE/ENEwards, the storms crossed Buckingham 17:20-17:30 at it's peak intensity, and Stony Stratford/Wolverton around 17:40-17:50. It crossed the M1 between 17:55-18:00 over and to the north of Newport Pagnell (north of junction 14), directly over the Newport Pagnell services.

The storm entered Bedfordshire south of Turvey at 18:15-18:20, and although began to weaken, it did briefly re-intensify as it crossed the A6 near Radwell at 18:30-18:40. Significant weakening was then observed with general loss of supercellular characteristics as it migrated into Cambridgeshire close to Great Staughton at 18:50.

For more information please refer to this forecast Track:  http://ukasf.co.uk/storm-forecasts/166  

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