V Harris

Ancient snowflake.

[Dundee Sat Station @DundeeSat]

METOP-B, 0947 UTC Overpass: @Petagna @SqRaindrop @Mark__Bowe @HIOWweather1 @BlackCountryWX @KWTWeather @liam_lovell @Tigermoth2002 @KNMI @meteobelBE @MeteoFrance_N @AEMET_Cantabria @AEMET_Asturias @g5juergenm @soyangeln

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

⚡ Good morning everyone!

If you thought yesterday’s showers were lively here in Cornwall, spare a thought for our neighbours across the Channel! Parts of France had a real battering, torrential downpours, thunderstorms, hailstones big enough to make you rethink your choice of roofing tiles, and even flooding. And get this, over 32,000 lightning strikes were recorded in France yesterday, most of them in the southeast. That’s not a light show… that’s a full-on rock concert in the sky!

Now, just imagine if Cornwall had to deal with 32,000 lightning strikes in one day. Can you picture it? Half of us would be standing at the window filming it for Facebook, the other half would be under the duvet with the cat refusing to come out until 2026. Smudge and Gus would probably be hiding under the sofa quicker than you can say “thunderclap.” 🐾

For comparison, during a typical thunderstorm here, we might get a handful of strikes across the county. So, 32,000 would be like Mother Nature saying, “Right, let’s see how much drama I can pack into one day!”

🌍 Did you know?
Lightning bolts can reach temperatures of around 30,000°C, which is hotter than the surface of the Sun! No wonder a proper thunderstorm feels so intense you’re basically watching mini explosions of energy firing through the atmosphere.

So, next time Cornwall gets a rumble or two, remember… it could always be wilder. And if it ever does get that bad here, I reckon we’ll all need industrial-sized surge protectors and a lot of very strong tea. ☕⚡😂

Kind regards,
KWT Dave

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌍🌪️ World Weather Update From Droughts to Hurricanes 🌪️🌍

Good morning everyone,

Our weather watch takes us far across the Atlantic today, where Mother Nature has been busy showing off her wild side. From blistering droughts to devastating floods, and from tropical storms to full-blown hurricanes, it’s been quite the week of extremes.

🇲🇽 Baja California, from dust to deluge
After months of battling severe drought, Southern Baja California has suddenly flipped from one extreme to the other. Hurricane Lorena swept in from the Pacific and wasted no time in drenching the region. In less than 24 hours, the storm unleashed enough rain to turn streets into rivers, cutting off roads and leaving communities wading through fast-flowing floodwaters. Lorena formed on the night of September 1st in the Mexican Pacific and quickly intensified, reaching Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. For a storm that started life so quietly, it certainly made its presence felt.

🌊 Meanwhile, further out in the Pacific...
Meet Hurricane Kiko, and unlike Lorena, this one decided to show off its power. Kiko has surged all the way up to Category 4, packing sustained winds of around 145mph (233 km/h). That’s the kind of wind strength that can rip roofs from houses, snap trees like matchsticks, and turn loose objects into flying missiles. At present, Kiko is barreling its way towards Hawaii, and it’s being monitored very closely as the islands prepare for possible impacts.

🌪️ And in the Atlantic… not done yet!
Just when you thought it couldn’t get busier, the Atlantic Ocean may have another trick up its sleeve. Meteorologists are keeping a sharp eye on a developing weather system which has the potential to strengthen into a tropical storm in the coming days. If it does, it could add yet another name to this already active hurricane season.

💡 Weather fact for the day: The Saffir–Simpson scale doesn’t just give a category number, each jump in category means a huge increase in destructive power. For example, a Category 4 storm has wind speeds double the destructive potential of a Category 1. No wonder coastal regions take no chances when they hear the words “rapid intensification.”

From drought to floods, and from calm seas to roaring hurricanes, the past few days have been a reminder that weather is never boring, especially across the tropics at this time of year. 🌎

Stay tuned for more world and local updates.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave 🌦️

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌩️ Spectacular Skies over France! 🌩️⛈️

Good afternoon everyone,

While Cornwall has been dodging its own share of showers, just across the English Channel in France, the skies have put on quite a show today. In Ternay, an impressive arcus cloud, more commonly known as a shelf cloud, was captured rolling dramatically across the horizon. These low, menacing-looking clouds often form on the leading edge of a thunderstorm, and they’re the type that make you stop whatever you’re doing and just stare in awe (or run for cover!).

And the shelf cloud wasn’t just for show it came with some serious weather behind it. Reports from the southern Rhône, France, this afternoon include:
🌩️ Big thunderstorms rumbling across the region
💧 Torrential rain is turning roads into rivers
❄️ And even large hailstones hammering down the kind that can dent cars and shred gardens in minutes.

If you’ve ever wondered what an “arcus cloud” is it’s essentially a horizontal, rolling cloud formation created when cool, dense air from a thunderstorm undercuts warmer, humid air at the surface. The result? A dramatic, shelf-like cloud that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi film.

France has certainly had its fair share of dramatic skies lately, and today’s weather is a good reminder of how quickly the atmosphere can switch gears. One minute it’s calm, the next it’s unleashing thunder, hail, and torrential downpours.

📸 Photo credit: Ka Thy via Lyon Météo and what a capture it is!

Kind regards,
KWT Dave 🌦️

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

Cornwall is playing hide and seek under the clouds!

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌊🍂 Why Cornwall Gets Battered by Low-Pressure Systems in Autumn 🍂🌊

Ever wondered why, just as we’re finishing our summer ice creams and clinging on to those last sunny BBQ days, Cornwall suddenly seems to turn into a wind tunnel with sideways rain? The answer, my friends, lies in our old seasonal visitor: the Atlantic low-pressure system.

🌍 Where do they come from?
Think of the Atlantic Ocean as a giant weather factory. During summer, it’s relatively quiet because the jet stream – that fast-moving ribbon of air high up in the atmosphere, sits further north, letting us bask in sunshine (and complain about being too hot, naturally).

But as autumn rolls in, the Atlantic wakes up. The temperature contrast between warm tropical air and cooler polar air gets stronger, and the jet stream shifts south. This is like hitting the “on” button for the storm conveyor belt. Low-pressure systems form where warm and cold air masses clash, they spin up, deepen, and then race across the ocean straight towards… You guessed it… Cornwall, the first bit of land they smack into.

💨 Why does it get windy?
Low-pressure systems are basically giant atmospheric hoovers; air rushes in from all directions to fill the “hole” in pressure. The tighter the squeeze (or pressure gradient), the stronger the winds. That’s why we often end up with howling gales rattling windows and turning umbrellas inside-out.

🌧️ Why all the rain?
Warm air within these systems rises, cools, and condenses into clouds. The result? Rain, showers, and sometimes torrential downpours. Cornwall often gets the brunt of it because we’re sticking out into the Atlantic like a soggy sponge, catching every passing front.

🌊 And the ocean?
The winds from these systems whip up the seas into towering waves. Combine that with our autumn spring tides, and you get some truly dramatic coastal scenes, huge surf for the brave, and plenty of “wow” moments for storm watchers. It’s also why RNLI lifeguards and Coastguard teams are kept so busy this time of year.

🍂 Why Autumn in particular?

The jet stream strengthens and dips south.

The Atlantic is still relatively warm from summer, adding extra fuel to storm systems.

The contrast between warm and cold air masses is at its greatest.

Basically, autumn is the perfect storm-making recipe, and Cornwall is first in line for a taste test.

😅 The Cornish Reality Check:
So if you’re wondering why your washing is soaked again, why the dog refuses to go outside, or why the neighbour’s trampoline has mysteriously relocated three gardens over, blame the Atlantic conveyor belt of low pressure.

But here’s the silver lining: these systems bring us the dramatic skies, the roaring seas, and the wild beauty that makes Cornwall… well, Cornwall. Plus, they keep the surfers happy!

Kind regards,
KWT Dave 🌦️

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

⚡🌩️ Good Afternoon Everyone! 🌩️⚡

If you’re not a fan of thunderstorms, you might want to look away now… but if you’re like me and love the raw power of nature, then you’ll enjoy this one!

Last night over Montegalda, Italy, the skies put on a truly spectacular display. A dramatic shelf cloud rolled across the night sky, lit up by the crack and flash of lightning. There’s something almost otherworldly about seeing the atmosphere alive with energy, a mix of beauty and raw power all in one breathtaking moment.

Now, I know thunderstorms divide opinion. Personally, I think night-time storms are the best kind, when the sky becomes nature’s own theatre, and the stage is illuminated by dazzling lightning bolts. But I completely understand that for many, the sound of rumbling thunder isn’t thrilling at all. In fact, there’s even a name for it: astraphobia, the fear of thunder and lightning. It’s more common than you might think, not just in people but in pets too (hands up if you’ve ever had a dog hiding under the table during a storm 🐾).

What makes a shelf cloud so fascinating is that it looks like the sky is literally rolling toward you. These clouds form when rain-cooled air rushes down and spreads out, forcing warm air upwards. The result? That incredible, almost apocalyptic cloud formation that makes you feel tiny under the vastness of the sky.

[Dundee Sat Station @DundeeSat]

METOP-B, 0930 UTC Overpass: @MetMattTaylor tell this system to SHOO! @petagna help. @SqRaindrop push. @KWTWeather weddings this weekend we hear in your area, dry needed. @BlackCountryWX you're ok. Andy @hiow? @KNMI @meteobelBE @AEMET_Asturias @AEMET_Cantabria @MeteoElx @r_mcoy

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

Good morning everyone!

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Has your name made the list this year? 👀

The UK Met Office, Ireland’s Met Éireann, and KNMI over in the Netherlands have teamed up once again to reveal the storm names for the upcoming 2025–26 season. The storm season officially runs from early September right through to the end of August the following year, which neatly lines up with when the Atlantic starts throwing more low-pressure tantrums across our way.

Now here’s the fun part: these aren’t just any names they’re names that will end up splashed across news headlines, shouted at on weather reports, and probably cursed at when bins go flying down the street.

👉 And yes, the big question… has your name made the storm list?
Well, here at KWT we already feel famous, because there are THREE Daves on the team, plus a Hannah and an Amy too! So if we get a storm Amy, Dave, or Hannah this season, expect some quality chaos in the comments section. 😂

It’s not just us, though, Europe has their own naming system too. High-impact storms across Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Spain get their titles from their meteorological agencies. Basically, no storm is safe from being christened with someone’s nan’s name.

Here’s the full list for the 2025/26 Western Group storms (with pronunciations and who picked them):

🌪️ Amy (Met Office)

🌪️ Bram (Met Éireann)

🌪️ Chandra (Ch-an-dra) (KNMI)

🌪️ Dave (Met Office)

🌪️ Eddie (KNMI)

🌪️ Fionnuala (Fee-new-lah) (Met Éireann)

🌪️ Gerard (Jer-ard) (Met Éireann)

🌪️ Hannah (KNMI)

🌪️ Isla (Met Office)

🌪️ Janna (Yah-nah) (KNMI)

🌪️ Oscar (Met Office)

🌪️ Patrick (Met Éireann)

🌪️ Ruby (Met Office)

🌪️ Stevie (Met Office)

🌪️ Tadhg (Tie-g) (Met Éireann)

🌪️ Violet (Met Office)

🌪️ Wubbo (Vuh-boh) (KNMI)

So, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which storm are you secretly rooting for? Or dreading? Personally, I can’t wait for Storm Dave… because let’s face it, the memes write themselves.

Stay tuned, because once the season gets going, we’ll be tracking them all for you as always.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave (yes… one of the three 😏)

🐾 Smudge and Gus’s Weather Verdict 🐾

Smudge says she’ll be hiding under the duvet the second Storm Dave arrives – apparently, even sharing a name with a storm is too much drama.

Gus, on the other hand, reckons Storm Amy will just be “a bit of wind and rain, nothing to fuss about” but then again, Gus thinks every storm is just an excuse for extra snacks.

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

⛈️ Good Afternoon Everyone! ⛈️

Yesterday in Ivrea, near Turin in northern Italy, Mother Nature decided to put on quite a dramatic show. A powerful thunderstorm rolled through the area bringing with it:

🌧️ Torrential downpours streets looked more like rivers within minutes.

🧊 Hailstones the size of golf balls, yes, golf balls! Imagine those smashing down from the sky… not the sort of thing you want when your car is parked outside or you’ve just spent all morning cleaning the windows.

💥 Plenty of damage smashed windscreens, battered roofs, and some very unhappy homeowners who will be calling their insurance companies today.

Events like this aren’t as rare as you might think across parts of Europe during the summer. When the hot Mediterranean air clashes with cooler, unstable air sweeping in from the north, you get the perfect recipe for supercharged thunderstorms – complete with hailstones big enough to make you rethink your choice of roof tiles!

🌍 Fun Fact:
The largest hailstone ever recorded in Europe was a whopping 19 cm (about the size of a melon!) that fell in Italy in 2023. Thankfully, we don’t tend to get hailstones that size here in Cornwall, usually just the pea-sized variety. And let’s be honest, if golf-ball hailstones ever did make it to Cornwall, you’d need a steel umbrella and reinforced pasty crusts for protection.

😂 Cornish Humour Check:
I’m rather glad we don’t get hailstones like that here, though knowing Cornwall, if we ever did, the first thing someone would ask is whether they could pop them in their cider to save buying ice cubes!

So while we’re dodging our usual mix of showers and sunshine today, spare a thought for the folks in Ivrea who are still sweeping up chunks of ice from their gardens.

Stay safe, keep your roofs intact,
KWT Dave 🌦️

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🧊🌍 Nature’s Creepiest Waterfall – Antarctica’s “Blood Falls” 🩸❄️

In one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth, deep in the frozen heart of Antarctica, lies a sight so strange it looks like something straight out of a horror film: a waterfall that appears to be bleeding from the ice.

Known as Blood Falls, this bizarre natural wonder gushes out of the Taylor Glacier, staining the pristine white ice with a deep, rusty red that looks alarmingly like a giant wound in the landscape. But don’t worry – the glacier isn’t actually bleeding!

🔬 The Science Behind It
Nearly 2 million years ago, a pocket of ancient seawater became trapped beneath the glacier. Over millennia, that water turned into an incredibly salty, iron-rich brine. When it finally seeps out and meets the air, the iron oxidises, basically, it rusts, and the result is that shocking red colour that makes the glacier look like it’s haemorrhaging.

But here’s where it gets really exciting: in these extreme, seemingly unlivable conditions, scientists discovered tiny microorganisms thriving in the salty, oxygen-free water. These microbes have adapted to survive without sunlight, without oxygen, and in one of the harshest environments on the planet.

🚀 Why It Matters
Blood Falls isn’t just a creepy spectacle it’s also a window into life beyond Earth. The fact that organisms can survive here gives researchers vital clues about how life might exist on icy worlds like Europa (one of Jupiter’s moons) or Enceladus (Saturn’s moon), both of which are thought to hide salty oceans beneath their frozen surfaces.

So, the next time you think of Antarctica as just a barren wasteland of ice and penguins, remember: deep under the glaciers, there’s a world that challenges what we thought we knew about life itself. 🌌❄️

Would you dare to stand in front of a glacier that looks like it’s bleeding?

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌊 Good evening everyone, here are your tide times for Saturday🌊

It's going to be a wet day, so there are things to remember if you're out in it. To drive safely in floodwater, avoid it if possible by finding an alternative route, but if you must proceed, drive slowly and steadily in a low gear, staying in the centre of the road. Turn on your headlights and maintain a consistent, slow speed of about 3-4 mph. Keep engine revs high by slipping the clutch or using the accelerator to avoid stalling, but don't create a large bow wave. After exiting the water, test your brakes by applying light pressure to dry them and restore their effectiveness.

The power of flood water
Six inches: Six inches is enough water to cause vehicle traction issues, including sliding and hydroplaning.
12 inches: 12 inches is enough water to flood most cars — although this does vary depending on vehicle size and model. When your car is flooded, it means your engine has been compromised and your vehicle will most likely stall. If your vehicle stalls, turning around is no longer an option and you could potentially get carried downstream by rushing water and currents.
Two feet: Two feet of flood water is enough to sweep away most vehicles — including large SUVs, vans and trucks. If water is standing, vehicles without significantly raised beds will most certainly flood and stall in this deep of water, as well.

🛑If you get into trouble or you see someone who needs help, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard or, if you are deaf or have a speech impairment you can send an emergency SMS🛑

Jane KWT
KWT supported by https://t.co/GLxNCRfwTK @islesofscillyflowers HM Coastguard Area 11 Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Coastal Safety RNLI #FloatToLive #Sea #tide #weather #kernow #cornwall #scilly #update #tootstaxi #KeepitChaos #Education #visitislesofscilly #Islands #islandsfm #kernow #scillytic #visitislesofscilly #cornwall #tidetimes #coastsafe

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌊 Good morning Cornwall!

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If you’re thinking about heading to the coast today for a surf session, a sea swim, or just a paddle with the family, please take note before you dive in. Several of our most popular beaches, including Fistral, Porthtowan, and Porthleven Sands — currently have sea pollution alerts in place. 🚫

These alerts are issued when water quality drops due to factors like heavy rainfall washing surface run-off into the sea, or issues with sewage overflows. While the ocean might look inviting, it’s always worth remembering that poor water quality can cause illnesses such as ear infections, stomach upsets, and skin irritation.

👉 What you can do today:

Check before you swim, even if the surf looks perfect.

If you or your children have cuts or grazes, it’s best to stay out of the water.

Always shower after swimming to reduce the risk of infection.

You can see the full list of affected beaches and live updates on our sister site here:
🔗 Oceanic Wave – Bathing Water Quality Cornwall

The sea will always be there tomorrow, so if your favourite beach is flagged today, maybe it’s the perfect excuse for a beach walk, a cliff-top picnic, or just watching the waves roll in with a coffee in hand. ☕🌊

Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy Cornwall responsibly.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌪️🏥 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina: The Haunting Story of Charity Hospital 🏥🌪️

Good evening everyone,

It’s hard to believe, but this summer marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina changed New Orleans forever. Among the many scars left behind is a haunting one: the abandoned Charity Hospital, a towering 20-story building that once stood as the beating heart of healthcare in the city.

📜 A hospital older than America itself
Charity Hospital was founded way back in 1736, nearly 40 years before the Declaration of Independence! It was funded by a French sailor, Jean Louis, who wanted to leave behind something good for the poor of New Orleans. Over the centuries, it grew to become one of the largest hospitals in the United States, and by 1939, when the current building opened, it was second only to Bellevue in New York in size. Imagine the stories its walls could tell—births, recoveries, miracles, and heartbreaks—all under one roof.

🌊 Katrina’s devastation
On August 29th, 2005, Katrina roared ashore. Floodwaters swamped New Orleans, and Charity Hospital was hit hard. Power failed. Water supplies ran out. Staff and patients were trapped inside, struggling in stifling heat and rising water. In scenes straight out of a disaster film, patients were carried through pitch-black corridors and eventually airlifted from rooftops. By the end, the damage to Charity Hospital alone was estimated at a staggering $340 million.

🏚️ 20 years of emptiness
Two decades later, the huge million-square-foot hospital still stands abandoned in the middle of downtown New Orleans. A ghostly reminder of what once was. Broken windows, peeling paint, and eerie silence have replaced the once-bustling wards. Locals describe it as both heartbreaking and haunting, a giant relic of a storm that changed everything.

💡 A future still uncertain
There have been plans to breathe life back into the building. Most recently, the City Council pledged $20 million to Tulane University, with dreams of transforming it into a cutting-edge research centre. But politics (as ever) complicated things: Mayor LaToya Cantrell vetoed the plan in July this year, only for the Council to override her veto a week later. So, the fate of Charity still hangs in the balance.

🏥 Charity’s legacy lives on
Even though the original building sits in silence, Charity’s spirit didn’t die with Katrina. In 2007, a temporary University Hospital opened its doors, and by 2015, the stunning $1.2 billion University Medical Centre took its place, modern, bright, and designed to continue Charity’s 289-year-old mission of caring for the people of New Orleans.

✨ From hope to haunting
So next time you hear about Hurricane Katrina, remember Charity Hospital. It’s not just an abandoned building, it’s a story of generosity, tragedy, resilience, and the ongoing struggle between history and the future.

👉 Fun fact for perspective: Charity was so big that if you stacked all 20 floors on their side, it would stretch nearly the length of 5 football fields! 🏈 That’s a LOT of hospital.

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

Well, it wasn’t just mainland Cornwall that took a soaking last night, the Isles of Scilly certainly had their fair share of wild weather too. 🌧️

Torrential downpours swept across the islands through the evening, and in true Scillonian style, the weather didn’t hold back. Floodwaters rose quickly in places, with roads and paths turning into streams, and you can see just how deep it got in the videos kindly shared with us by Samaya Reid (thank you, Samaya! 🙌).

⚠️ A quick note: there is a bit of colourful language at the end of one of the clips but given the conditions, we can probably all understand why!

Flooding like this is a reminder of just how vulnerable our coastal communities are when heavy rain and high tides collide. The Isles of Scilly, being so exposed out in the Atlantic, often get hit harder and faster than we do here on the mainland, and events like last night show how quickly things can change.

💡 Did you know?
Because the Isles of Scilly sit right on the edge of the Gulf Stream, they often experience milder winters than Cornwall, but they’re also more exposed to sudden downpours, storms, and strong winds rolling straight in from the ocean. It’s a weather lover’s paradise, but sometimes a headache for the locals!

🌊 Whether it’s the Isles of Scilly or Cornwall, last night’s weather was a sharp reminder of just how much rain can fall in a short space of time and why drainage systems can struggle to cope.

Stay safe out there today, keep an eye on the forecasts, and if you’re travelling to or from the Isles of Scilly, expect some lingering wet spots and standing water.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave

@BBCCornwall @itvnews @NickJF75 @Netweather @DundeeSat @eifelcowboy @BBCSpotlight @ITVCharlieP

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

Good Morning Cornwall & Isles of Scilly! 🌊

Powered by @everettkingek

Time to talk surf! Below are the latest wave charts from our sister site 👉 https://t.co/ctPrg3AAof and let’s just say, the Atlantic has been busy cooking up some swell for us over the next few days.

Here’s the outlook for the North Coast of Cornwall:

📊 Wave Forecast

Today: 5–10ft, from waist to head-high (with the odd bigger set sneaking in).

Friday: 4–8ft, still in that waist-to-head zone.

Saturday: 3–6ft, easing back slightly, but still plenty of energy.

Sunday: 8–12ft, a proper pulse of swell moving in.

Monday: Similar story to Sunday, expect some size out there!

⚠️ A word of caution: These are estimates. The ocean is a living, breathing beast and it doesn’t always read the forecast charts! Sets could be bigger… or smaller. That’s why experienced surfers always say, “Never turn your back on the sea.” Even professional watermen and women can get caught out when it decides to flex its muscles.

💡 Surf Science Snippet: Did you know waves are formed by wind energy being transferred across the ocean’s surface? The stronger and longer the wind blows, the bigger the swell. By the time these waves travel hundreds (sometimes thousands) of miles, they’ve packed in a lot of energy, which is why even a “5ft wave” can feel incredibly powerful when it hits the Cornish coast.

🏄‍♂️ For the Surfers:

Today and Friday should serve up some tasty, clean-ish conditions in spots that like a bigger pulse.

Saturday looks fun-sized for most skill levels.

Sunday into Monday? That’s when the ocean brings out its heavyweight gloves expect powerful surf and some very challenging conditions at exposed breaks.

👀 For the Wave Watchers:
If you’re just heading down to enjoy the spectacle, please be careful on cliff edges, piers, and harbour walls. The sea can look mesmerising, but rogue waves can and do catch people out. Stay back, take in the drama, and let your camera do the zooming.

😅 Fun thought of the day: Cornwall’s north coast this weekend is basically going to be Mother Nature’s version of a rock concert, loud, powerful, and not something you want to stand too close to the speakers for.

🌊 KWT Dave’s Closing Note:
We’ll keep tracking this swell as it builds. Whether you’re a surfer, a photographer, or just someone who loves to watch the Atlantic doing its thing, there’s plenty to look forward to over the next few days.

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌊🌬️ Good Afternoon Cornwall! 🌊🌬️

The photo below is from our sister site https://t.co/ctPrg3AAof definitely worth a browse if you’re planning a trip to the beach, thinking of braving a surfing session, or even just fancying a dip in the briny blue.

And let me tell you, the ocean’s really flexing her muscles this week! Over the next few days, we’re talking serious swell:

📏 Today: Some spots could see waves between 8–16ft, that’s double to quadruple overhead in surfer terms.
📏 Rest of the week: We’re still looking at a chunky 7–14ft rolling in.

These aren’t your gentle summer rollers; these are powerful, thumping waves that will keep even the pros on their toes.

⚠️ A little word of warning:
Wave-watching might seem harmless, but please don’t underestimate the power of the sea. All it takes is one rogue wave to catch you off guard and drag you in – game over in seconds. If you’re heading down to spectate, keep a safe distance, especially around exposed rocks, sea walls, and cliff edges.

For those planning to surf, remember, this is advanced territory only. If you’re new to surfing, it’s not the time to “give it a go.” And if you are experienced, please do us all a favour, keep an eye out for the inevitable tourist who thinks “it doesn’t look that big” and hasn’t a clue about rip currents, tides, or how heavy a 10ft wave actually is.

Sadly, we’ll likely see a few incidents across Cornwall in conditions like this, so a little common sense and local knowledge goes a long way.

💡 Did you know?
The energy in a breaking wave increases exponentially with its height, meaning a 10ft wave is not just “twice” as powerful as a 5ft wave, it’s closer to four times the power! No wonder seasoned surfers talk about “respecting the swell.”

So, whether you’re a surfer, a sea-dipper, or just someone who loves watching the drama of the Atlantic, enjoy the show, but do it safely. Let the waves put on the performance, not you. 😉

Kind regards,
🌊 KWT Dave
@RedBull_Surfing @wsl

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

⛈️🌨️ Sunday Afternoon Weather Bite, Hailstones Around the World 🌨️⛈️

Good afternoon everyone,

When we talk about wild weather, most people picture the USA with their supercells and storm chasers speeding through fields in pickup trucks. But here’s the thing, it’s not just the USA that gets damaging hailstones!

Just a few days ago in Covasna Town, Romania, a powerful thunderstorm rolled through bringing torrential rain and golf ball-sized hailstones. To put that into perspective, that’s like chunks of ice being lobbed out of the sky at motorway speeds! The storm caused damage to cars, smashed roof tiles, damaged people’s homes, and, sadly, reports say it also damaged farmers’ crops. Imagine looking out your window and seeing your greenhouse being pelted like it owed the weather some money… 😬💥

🌍 But why don’t we get these monster hailstones here in Cornwall?
Great question! It all comes down to atmospheric ingredients. The USA (especially places like Oklahoma and Texas in “Tornado Alley”) gets the perfect storm recipe:

Very warm, moist air is rushing up from the Gulf of Mexico.
Very cold, dry air is sweeping down from Canada.
Add in powerful jet stream winds above, and you get towering thunderstorms called supercells.
Inside these giant storm clouds, powerful updrafts act like elevators, hurling raindrops up and down over and over. Each time, another icy layer forms until you’ve basically got an airborne cannonball of ice. That’s how they end up with hailstones the size of cricket balls (or even grapefruits in extreme cases 🥴).

Here in Cornwall (and across much of the UK), we don’t quite have the same fuel. Yes, we can get hail, sometimes even marble-sized, but our storms usually aren’t tall or powerful enough to keep hailstones growing to extreme sizes. Our storms say: “Here’s a stinging pebble shower, now carry on with your pasty.” 🥟🌧️

So next time you see a hail shower bouncing off your garden table, be thankful you’re not having to replace your car windscreen like they do in parts of Europe or the States!

🌟 Did You Know? 🌟

The largest hailstone ever recorded in the USA (South Dakota, 2010) was nearly 8 inches across, bigger than a bowling ball and weighing almost a kilo! 🎳❄️

In Argentina in 2018, a storm dropped hailstones that scientists estimated were the largest in the world, some could have been nearly 9–10 inches across.

In Cornwall, the biggest you’ll usually see is a marble or golf ball size in a strong thunderstorm, so no need to start building a reinforced tin roof just yet! 😉

Stay safe, and as always, keep looking up!

Kind regards,
KWT Dave 🌦️

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌤️ Sunday Afternoon Weather Update Kernow Style 🌤️

Good afternoon everyone, hope you’re all making the most of this Sunday! 🍦🏖️

So far today, temperatures are sitting nicely between 19–25°C, but don’t be fooled, in that direct sunshine, it feels much hotter (yes, the classic “I’ll be fine without suncream” mistake is waiting to happen 🙃). Winds are mainly blowing in from the southeast, which is why things feel so warm and toasty out there.

A look at the Meteosat satellite image shows a patchwork quilt of hazy blue skies, sunshine, and some scattered clouds. But down in the southwest, there’s a sneaky batch of cloud creeping in, trying to gatecrash the party. ☁️

🌊 Meanwhile, Out in the Atlantic…
The tropics are up to their usual mischief! A brand-new tropical storm has spun up, and its name is Ferdinand (or as I like to call him, “Ferdy the Flirty Storm” 💃). Some of the infamous spaghetti charts are hinting that it could wander in our direction, but by the time it stumbles across the Atlantic, it’ll be downgraded to a low-pressure system. In other words, Ferdy’s bite won’t be as bad as his bark.

And remember Ex-Tropical Storm Erin? She’s lost her storm status now but will still pack a punch. By next week, her leftover low pressure could bring us:
🌊 Large waves, great for the surfers, not so much if you were planning a gentle paddle.
🌧️ Rain and blustery winds, yes, umbrellas may once again be turning inside-out across Cornwall.

So, in short, enjoy the hazy sunshine while it lasts, because things look set to turn a bit more unsettled later on.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave ☀️🌊

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

🌍 The Door to Hell A Fiery Scar in the Desert That Never Sleeps 🌍🔥

Imagine standing in the middle of a desert at night. The stars are glittering above you, silence stretches across the sands… and then you see it. A giant crater, glowing red, spitting fire and heat into the air as if the Earth itself has opened its jaws.

Welcome to the Darvaza Gas Crater, better known as “The Door to Hell.”

Back in 1971, a team of Soviet geologists were drilling in the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan, searching for natural gas. What they didn’t know was that the ground beneath them was far from stable. Suddenly, it collapsed, swallowing their drilling rig and leaving behind a monstrous pit nearly 70 metres wide.

That was just the beginning.

🌫️ The Problem:
As soon as the crater formed, dangerous methane gas began spewing out a serious threat to both wildlife and local communities. To stop the spread of poisonous fumes, the scientists came up with what seemed like a clever plan: set it on fire.

🔥 The Plan Gone Wrong (or right, depending on how you see it):
They assumed the gas would burn off in just a few days. But the reserves underground were so vast that the flames never went out. Days turned into weeks, weeks into years… and now more than five decades later, it’s still burning, creating an eternal inferno in the desert sands.

🌋 Today:
The crater has become one of the most surreal and fascinating sights on Earth. Tourists from around the world travel across the desert to witness the glowing pit that looks like something straight out of a fantasy novel. By night, it’s especially breathtaking as the flames roar, the heat is intense, and the desert is bathed in an eerie orange glow.

⚡ Did You Know?

The crater is around 30 metres deep – that’s like a 10-storey building underground.

It’s been burning for over 50 years continuously.

Locals nicknamed it “The Door to Hell,” and standing nearby, you can see why.

Some scientists argue it should be sealed to prevent further methane release, while others believe it’s too late, it’s become a natural wonder in its own right. Either way, it’s one of those rare places where human error and natural forces collided to create something unforgettable.

🔥👀 So, if you ever find yourself in Turkmenistan, brave the desert journey because staring into the Door to Hell is like staring into Earth’s own fiery heartbeat.