Alan Bray

Past Captain of Oxford City GC, ST holder at Reading FC come on URZzzzz

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@BBCNews Are package holiday companies that are providing airport transfers taking this into consideration as usually they are less than 2 hours especially at smaller airports

[Kernow Weather Team @KWTWeather]

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday afternoon we got sent an absolutely brilliant video from Robin Lawson-Wills at Perranporth Beach, and what an amazing little atmospheric moment this turned out to be.

Captured in the shallow water near the shoreline was a small spinning whirlwind vortex dancing its way around the water. At first glance, it almost looks like a mini waterspout trying to make an appearance, with spray, sand and wind all twisting together in classic dramatic Cornwall style.

And despite being fairly small, these spinning pockets of air can still pack quite a punch. In one of the videos, you can actually see the force of the twisting wind and spray knocking Robin slightly off balance while crouched down filming it as the vortex spun past him. A good reminder that even tiny atmospheric features can have surprising power behind them.

SO WHAT CAUSED IT?

This type of small whirlwind can develop when:
Blustery winds interact with cliffs, rocks and dunes, Sea breeze meets colder or warmer moving air, Uneven heating and airflow create rotation near the surface, Gusty conditions start twisting spray and sand together

Because this one formed right in the shallow water along the beach edge, it gave it that almost “mini waterspout” appearance as it pulled up spray while spinning along. Cornwall’s beaches are actually brilliant places for these odd little weather features because the coastline, cliffs and changing wind directions can create all sorts of tiny localised vortices and wind tunnels.

Most of these are harmless and short-lived, but they can still:
Throw sand and spray around, Steal hats, relocate beach towels without permission, and apparently try to wrestle weather photographers into the sea

Classic Cornwall behaviour really.

MICROCLIMATES IN CORNWALL ARE FASCINATING

One of the reasons Cornwall is so interesting weather-wise is that conditions can change massively over tiny distances. Beaches like Perranporth often create their own little microclimates where winds accelerate near cliffs and headlands, especially during blustery northerly or northwesterly setups as we’ve had recently.

So while one part of the beach may feel fairly calm, another section suddenly turns into “Atmospheric Washing Machine Mode.”

Huge thanks again to Robin Lawson-Wills for sending this fantastic capture to us we absolutely love seeing unusual weather moments from around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

And remember everyone, if you spot anything unusual weather-wise:
Whirlwind, Rainbows, Lightning, Strange clouds, Big surf, Weird atmospheric effects

Please don’t forget to share them with us here at KWT.

Kind regards,
KWT Dave

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@BBCOxford @AndrewGant3 hope we as tax payers aren’t paying for the resigning, did the county highways department sign this off as being all correct if so someone needs to be reprimanded

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@BBCOxford Perhaps if they were repaired properly in the first instance there wouldn’t be so many, many are just having infill without any ground preparation. @AndrewGant3 are they inspected for the quality of repair and signed off before the contractors are paid.

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@BBCOxford Words are easy @AndrewGant3 perhaps you can explain these screen shots of https://t.co/VivTMatNG1 (the 18:08 bus didn’t arrive note the times these were taken) and the info screen photo taken at 20:05 on a Friday at St Aldates for the #10 bus, supposed to run every 15 to 20 mins

[Alan Bray @brayav]

Lucky to get a point the stats don’t lie just hoof football, loose possession from at least 80% of throw ins, passing accuracy 66%, pretty much the whole of the 2nd half played in our half just like the Wycombe game @TheTilehurstEnd @TimDellor

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@PaulMillerNCG @NCG_com Wednesday 31st December

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@BBCNews Looks like the pothole isn’t repaired it just been filled in, it’ll probably need repairing again in a couple of months. I’ve always wondered if theses so called repairs are inspected by the relevant county or highway authority before payment.

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@ReadingFC Myself, sister and daughter won’t be there tonight due to your car parking policy for evening matches. If this continues we will look into not renewing our season tickets next year @STARReading

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@chrs1927 @BBCNews Tesco’s by Oxford r/rd 1.369 was 1.319 4wks ago Tesco Abingdon by A34 1.309 was 1.339 2wks ago Tesco’s Didcot 1.349 small independent in a medium size village 1.309 usually the cheapest all of these within a 5 mile radius

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@TheOxfordMail Same they can’t build a dr’s surgery

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@TheOxfordMail That’s like Horspath Driftway it’s gradually sinking, only started in the last 4-5 yrs probably due to the extra rerouted traffic from the LTNS

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@RFCSupport Well myself, daughter and sister will not be attending due to the old speedway stadium not being open, we are not going to sit in the main carpark for 15+ mins after the game with a 1hr + drive home

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@TheOxfordMail Cash cow for @OxfordshireCC with the junction closed only diversion route is via the Hollow Way congestion gate.

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@OxonTravel With the congestion gate on Hollow Way there’s no alternative route without paying

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@TheOxfordMail So it’s not the A34 shut it’s just the northbound slip at the Hinksey junction overnight

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@HertsRoyal @RFCSupport Same as us there was about 30 cars already there at about 6:30ish

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@burngold @DomRants_ Pre Beeching there was a double track line from Newbury to Didcot, if he hadn’t closed it you wouldn’t have to go via Reading

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@ChaponaBike123 @sarjsrihari So he’s to carryon at the speed limit 20mph slowing down the EV, or perhaps has to stop at the traffic lights blocking the road so he doesn’t break the law as he did by entering the cycle lane. Also you overtake another cyclist going onto the rd with an EV coming up fast behind

[Alan Bray @brayav]

@TheOxfordMail Hardly surprising when it can take more than 30 minutes to get into the city from Lye Valley by bus